Fota Wildlife Park Announces Temporary Closure Amid Suspected Bird Flu
Fota Wildlife Park in County Cork is closing for two days as a precautionary response to a suspected avian influenza (bird flu) incident. The park, a long-standing conservation and education facility near Belvelly, will shut on Tuesday and Wednesday while authorities carry out tests on dead geese found on site. If confirmed, the cases at Fota would mark the second avian flu event to affect Cork in a short period, underscoring growing concerns about the disease’s reach in both captive and wild bird populations.
What Happened at Fota?
A vet at Fota Wildlife Park reportedly raised alarms after three geese were found dead on the property. The geese have been sent to the State Laboratory in Co Kildare for testing to determine whether avian influenza caused their deaths. Fota, which opened in 1983 and currently attracts more than 400,000 visitors annually, spans 40 hectares of grass and woodland and is home to hundreds of captive exotic birds as well as free-flying native species.
Why the Closure Matters
Closing the park is a precaution to minimize the risk of spread and to protect both animals and visitors. The presence of avian influenza can necessitate strict biosecurity measures to prevent transmission among birds in care and to humans, depending on circumstances. While avian influenza primarily affects birds, some strains have posed health concerns for people, particularly in scenarios involving close contact with infected animals. The park’s management emphasized their commitment to safety and animal welfare while the testing proceeds.
What’s at Stake for the Park
Fota Wildlife Park showcases a diverse collection, including exotic species such as Chilean flamingos, Indian peafowl, Humboldt penguins, great white pelicans, white-tailed sea eagles, and ostriches. The park also supports several native species that roam its grounds, including magpies, jackdaws, greylag geese, mallard ducks, common wood pigeons, moorhen, black-headed gulls, little egrets, robins, and wrens. The proximity of captive birds to wild populations in a park setting increases the importance of stringent monitoring and rapid response to any suspected outbreak.
Context: A Broader Cork Bird Flu Situation
The Cork region has recently faced avian influenza concerns beyond Fota. At the end of September, Cork City Council reported an outbreak circulating among wild birds at the Lough, a four-hectare lake located between Ballyphehane and Glasheen. Tests confirmed highly pathogenic Avian Influenza HPAI (H5N1) in birds found dead at the lake.
Cork City Council, working with the Cork Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) and the Department of Agriculture, has been conducting intensive monitoring and surveillance of the lake’s bird life. Notably, official guidance highlights that avian influenza is a viral disease affecting the respiratory, digestive, and/or nervous systems of many bird species and poultry. It is highly contagious among birds and constitutes a notifiable animal disease. Authorities stressed that the virus can persist in the environment for weeks, particularly where contaminated faeces are present, making swift removal of sick or dead birds critical to control efforts.
What Visitors Should Know
For visitors and locals, the episode at Fota underscores the importance of biosecurity and responsible wildlife viewing. People are advised to follow park announcements and health and safety guidance, avoid handling wild birds, and report any sick or dead birds to local authorities. The incident also highlights how wildlife conservation sites must balance public access with stringent disease control measures to safeguard both animal populations and human health.
Looking Forward
As testing proceeds, officials will determine the appropriate next steps for Fota Wildlife Park. If avian influenza is confirmed, management may implement enhanced cleaning, quarantine procedures, and possible temporary relocation or containment strategies to prevent further spread within the park’s diverse avian collection. The broader regional response will likely continue to emphasize surveillance of both captive and wild birds, with ongoing communication to the public about any risks and safety recommendations.
