Curraghs Wildlife Park

Curraghs Wildlife Park is a Wildlife Park, located in The Curraghs, (also known as the Ballaugh Curraghs), an area of wetland in the north-west of the Isle of Man.^[1]

The park is owned by the Isle of Man Government and administered through the Manx Department of Tourism and Leisure.

History

The park was founded in 1963, through the Manx “Curraghs Acquisition Act”, the Isle of Man Government purchasing approximately 200 acres (0.81 km²) of land to be divided between 160 acres (0.65 km²) as a reserve and 40 acres (160,000 m²) as a wildlife park. The 26-acre (110,000 m²) park was formally opened by the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, Sir Ronald Garvey on the 23rd July 1965.^[2] and consists of approximately 100 primarily wetland species from around the world in walk-through enclosures. ^[3]

15 acres (61,000 m²) of the Park remains un-developed to display a variety of habitats such as bogs, Molinia grasslands, open water peat diggings, birch woodland and hay meadows. Various nature trails run through this area with signeage describing the ecology and history, comprising a nature trail, tree top trail and butterfly trail.

In 2005, as part of the Curraghs Wildlife Parks' 40 years anniversary celebrations, it was host to the annual meeting of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In 2009 the park received an award from Biaza at a ceremony held at Knowsley Hall, Merseyside, in recognition for the park’s work in education, winning the small collection award for Best Education Project with schools. ^[4]

The Curragh is also designated as a wetland site of international importance under 'The Convention for Wetlands of International Significance', known as the Ramsar Convention.

Education and facilities

There are educational facilities in the park, together with a children's farm (Close Beg) with domestic animals, play areas and The Orchid Line miniature railway.

Animals

Animals at Curraghs Wildlife Park include:^[5]

• Beavers
• Boa constrictors
• Bolivian squirrel monkeys
• Black spider monkeys
• Chilean Flamingos
• Emus
• Fishing Cats
• Flying Foxes
• Gough Island Moorhens
• Hermann's tortoise
• European Eagle Owls
• Humboldt Penguins
• Kookaburras
• Long-eared Owls
• Northern Lynx
• European Otters
• Palawan Peacock-pheasants
• Red pandas
• Ring-tailed Coatis
• Scarlet Ibis
• Short-clawed Otters
• Red-necked Wallabies

References

1. ^ The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
2. ^ An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Isle of Man by David T.Webber Revised by Frank Cowin and F.J.Radcliffe page 46 (1997) The Manx Experience ISBN 1 873120 25 7
3. ^ Wildlife park located next to the Ballaugh Curraghs
4. ^ Curraghs Wildlife Park Honoured in 2009 Biaza Awards
5. ^ Wildlife Park Animals Animal Index

External links

• Curraghs Wildlife Park web site
• BBC Springwatch

Coordinates: 54°19′05″N 4°30′49″W / 54.3181°N 4.5135°W / 54.3181; -4.5135