Curraghs Wildlife Park Curraghs wildlife park

willtheman45

willtheman45

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone on here had ever visited this park on the Isle of man. I visited here in August 2003(I think) but my memories are a bit vague and I didn't have a digital camera at the time.
The things I can remember is the wildlife park was divided into 'sections' for different continents and there were lots ofwalkthroughs before they became common. The only animals I can remember are capybaras in the walkthrough, spider monkeys on an island, two species of otter, kookaburas, beavers and lynx.
has anyone visited here recently and if you have can you give me an impression of what the place is like now-how it's changed and what animals are now there as there websites pretty vain. I would be very interested about what it's like now or when you visited.
I was just a little surprised to find no photos of here in the gallery.

Thanks, William
 
According to Zootierliste, this is the species list: ZootierlisteHomepage

The two otter species you saw, I presume, are the Canadian Otters and the Asian Short clawed Otters. Highlights of the park in my opinion would be the Tenrec, the Marsh Mongoose, the fishing cat, the Desmarests Hutia and the Crab Eating Macaque...
 
Thank you for this link.I remember it did have an interesting collection and appears it still does although i can't remeber any of the species you have pointed out although I was young and before I took a greater interest in animals/zoos.

There were actually three species of otter- Asian short clawed, Canadian and European otters.
 
Reviews on internet review sites seem to portray the collection in a negative light (although they should be taken with a pinch of salt!)

This seems to contrast with the way i remember the zoo-perhaps a more recent visitor could tell me what the place is now like?
And does anyone have any pictures of this wildlife park?
 
Willtheman.

I last visited about 2 years ago, however I shall be there again on either 26the or 27th March.

Having visited a fair few places in the UK, I would say that this place is pretty good to be honest considering its size, revenue and location.

It is still broken down into 'the continents' - well roughly speaking anyhow. There is also a wildlife walk which takes you through trees, grass and swampy areas on the island, with a few notice boards of what to look out for and what you are expected to see different parts of the year. It was just too wet to do the walk last time we went, but maybe better luck time.

What I find unique and great about Curraghs is that you are just a 'free range visitor' with the freedom to wander through areas of guanaco's, wallabies, pelicans, lemurs etc, the animals are curious of you and will come so close, I think that aspect of Curraghs is great. However in the UK main land it probably wouldn't work as there would be too many idiots making a fool of themselves dropping litter & feeding animals etc. Obviously the monkey species and the cats are separated from the public.
Good place to visit and if you going to the Isle of Man, a must see on a lovely island.
 
For those who do not use links is the species list for Curraghs

Australian white Ibis
Indian eagle-owl
Madagascar teal
Spectacled Owl
Chilean flamingo
Colombian black spider monkey
Meerkat
European beaver
Northern lynx
Fishing cat
Degu
Guanaco
Humboldt penguin
Crab-eating macaque (Long-tailed macaque) (Java macaque)
Chestnut-breasted teal
Lesser hegdehog-tenrec
King vulture
Desmarest's hutia (Cuban hutia)
Long-nosed potoroo
Long-tailed chinchilla
Meller's duck
Greater rhea (American rhea)
Canadian otter
Palawan Peacock-Pheasant
Parma wallaby
Rosy-billed pochard
Tufted pochard (Tufted duck)
Rodriguez flying fox
Pink-backed pelican
Red-tailed black cockatoo
Red-fronted lemur
Bolivian squirrel monkey
Siberian lynx
Magpie goose
Straw-necked ibis
South American Comb Duck
Marsh mongoose
Waldrapp (Northern bald ibis)
Eastern pygmy marmoset
Western sitatunga
Nepalese red panda
Oriental small-clawed otter

This list was taken from Zooterliste
 
Thanks for a very interesting reply pootle. I haven't been for many years but I do remember in a positive light-particuarly the large amount of walk through enclosures. I would be grateful if you could do a report/take pictures of this wildlife park and upload them in the gallery if that's possible.
 
I agree that would be great and if possible a map or picture of a map as the one on their website is rather small which makes it difficult to see how the park is laid out.
 
I will put something together about Curragh's and certainly try to find a better map than that on the website (I agree it is really too small). I shall also take a few shots of the park, enclosures and animals themselves and upload.

Here's to a blue sky and a bit of sun !
 
Visit Sunday 27th March

1. The sun was out and the park not too busy
2. I left my camera in the hotel D'oh, I was convinced it was in the boot, sorry folks.
3. The park is looking good.

Once I was resigned to do a tour without my camera I paid the entrance fee (£8 pounds each for adults an a fiver for OAP's & Children)

The first exhibit on entering is the Penguins and they have a tidy enclosure, good pool and plenty of homes to nest/sleep in. Around the edge inside the enclosure are lined up pictures of all the different penguin species, good for education purposes. The best photo missed was here, as one of the penguins had correctly identified himself against the pictures and was stood in front of a picture of a Humboldt penguin, clever little guy. Curragh's is still sectioned into areas of the world and there is no right or wrong way to take your trip around, just make sure you don’t miss anything. so we went into the 'Pampas' next, as previously mentioned you are able to walk through the exhibits and the old guanaco comes walking over to look at you then he decides he is close enough and stops and the same with the rhea. I really enjoy this type of zoo when you can walk amongst the animals.
From previous visits about 3 years ago nothing much has changed, it is still a tidy place with in my opinion good exhibits given the space and finances. The displays are clear, the information notes and boards tell you enough and the staff approachable with regards my questions.

I was personally please to see the King Vultures, the Fishing Cat, Potoroo's, Red Panda and Tapirs. I am not one for particular favourites at any zoo or park (bar Rhino's of course :))

One walkthrough which has changed slightly is the walkthrough Lemur section, the Ring tailed and Madagascans have been separated now and the public cannot have as much exposure to them direct. This is due to one or two of the public getting bitten by them over recent years I was informed by a keeper - more like the public feeding them banana and the lemurs in turn getting over excited in my opinion...

Also worth a mention and thumbs up for Curraghs is the cafe. Good quality home cooked food available and at decent prices - take note UK mainland Zoo cafe's!!

All in all it is a zoo with a bit of a difference and one that I recommend to anyone visiting the island as a must see.
 
New to the collection for 2016 will be a pair of Moloch Gibbons. Building work on there house and enclosure has recently begun. If work is completed on time (and paperwork permitting) then they should be in place by July next year
 
Sad news, the old Guanaco has died. Even fewer in the UK now.

If you have been to Curraghs you will know who I mean with his uniqueness.
 
Pootle said:
Sad news, the old Guanaco has died. Even fewer in the UK now.

If you have been to Curraghs you will know who I mean with his uniqueness.
Click to expand...

Yep! :) saw him in the summer. Just realised the gallery doesn't have many pics, I'll find a few and add them.
 
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