Editorial: Fota gets welcome Christmas present
While our turkeys have largely been safe and we should all be able to enjoy turkey this Christmas if we want to, the avian flu has had a huge effect elsewhere.
Thankfully, the much-loved Fota Wildlife Park is set to reopen soon after being closed for weeks and weeks. The not-for-profit conservation organisation will finally reopen to the public on Saturday 20 December.
The park has been closed for 10 weeks in order to manage an avian influenza outbreak originating from wild bird populations.
On 4 November, 12 cases of avian influenza were confirmed within Fota Wildlife Park since the outbreak began. As a result, 73 birds from the park had to be euthanised as “a limited population management measure for non-endangered avian species”.
The park said that “due to the seriousness of the avian flu outbreak, this was the only option that could be taken in order to maintain the highest standards of animal welfare for the park’s remaining birds, and in order to minimise the transmission of the virus within the park”.
Working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the park said they implemented biosecurity protocols and disease control measures. All birds in Fota Wildlife Park’s population have been tested twice for avian influenza and all test results were negative. The park will continue to maintain its enhanced biosecurity measures and monitoring protocols, they say.
Aileen Tennant, Director at Fota Wildlife Park said: “Fota Wildlife Park exists to protect rare and endangered species through conservation breeding programmes, research and education.
“With the countdown to Christmas well underway, we are asking the public to continue their long-standing support for Fota Wildlife Park. Please consider donating, purchasing gift vouchers, sponsoring an animal, or pre-booking your online tickets today. This support will ensure we have the resources to help us maintain world-class care standards and to continue our critical conservation work for years to come. The support from our annual pass holders, stakeholders and the public has been overwhelming, and we're deeply grateful for that support.”
Last Friday, Fota was awarded additional funding to support the continuation of vital biodiversity conservation programmes at the park. Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD allocated €700,000 in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to secure the future of key initiatives for threatened species such as natterjack toad, white-clawed crayfish, curlew and dunlin and corncrake.
Fota Wildlife Park is such a magical place for so many kids in Cork and beyond but it also has a crucial function in trying to save some native Irish species! You can donate at the Fota Wildlife Park website, buy a voucher or purchase an online ticket at fotawildlife.ie.