Fota Wildlife Park needs funding during closure – McCarthy  

Interim financial support should be given to Fota Wildlife Park during its temporary closure due to confirmed cases of avian influenza, a Fine Gael TD has said.

The closure, which is a precautionary measure in line with national biosecurity protocols, has stopped visitor admissions and a revenue generations stream for the site.

Deputy Noel McCarthy said: “Fota Wildlife plays a vital for in conservation, education and tourism – not just for Cork, but for the entire country. The temporary closure is necessary to protect avian, animal as well as human health, but it also places significant financial strain on the park.

“Interim funding should be considered to ensure the park can maintain essential care for its animals and its staff during this difficult period,” he added.

Eleven confirmed cases of bird flu have been identified in the Greylag Goose population at Fota Wildlife Park, and is expected to remain closed for the next few weeks.

Deputy McCarthy acknowledged the Department of Agriculture and Fota Wildlife Park staff’s swift response to the outbreak and praised it for its ongoing efforts to contain avian flu.

“My appeal is to ensure that institutions like Fota, which are directly impacted by these necessary measures are not left vulnerable. Interim support now will help preserve the park’s long-term viability.”