Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Park’s beginnings and celebrates 40 years of conservation, education, research, and breeding of endangered animals.
On June 23rd in 1983 Fota Wildlife Park opened its doors to the public. Since then, approximately 12 million people have visited Fota Wildlife Park and the number of animals in the park has grown from 172 animals (33 species) to 1096 animals (109 species).
Fota Wildlife Park has given €4 million to Irish and international conservation programmes and has over seen the births of hundreds of endangered species including 240 cheetahs, 72 Rothschild’s giraffes and 60 European bison.
Over the last 40 years, 7914 different animals have called Fota Wildlife Park their home some for a short term and some for their whole life, this does not include the 7500 Natterjack toadlets that were released into the wild in Kerry.
