Fota Wildlife Park sits on Fota Island near Carrigtwohill in County Cork, Ireland, where it has welcomed visitors since opening in June 1983. Run as an independently funded, not-for-profit charity through a joint project between the Zoological Society of Ireland and University College Cork, the park was built on land once owned by the Smith-Barry family and quickly became one of Ireland’s most visited attractions.
Spread across 100 acres, Fota is known for housing animals in open, cage-free enclosures rather than traditional barred exhibits, letting species like giraffes, zebras, bison, and ring-tailed lemurs roam in settings close to their natural habitats. The park is also a key participant in European breeding programs for endangered species, including a notable role in the conservation of Sudan cheetahs.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Fota Island, Carrigtwohill, County Cork, Ireland
- Opened: June 1983
- Size: 100 acres (40 hectares)
- Species: About 106 species (roughly 30 mammal, 50 bird)
- Annual visitors: About 429,000 (2024)
- Famous for: Cheetah Run enrichment device reaching about 65 km/h
The Wildlife Experience
Fota’s open-plan layout is its signature feature: many animals, including giraffes, zebras, and Asiatic lions, live in expansive enclosures without visible bars, separated from walkways by moats and natural barriers. Visitors can walk among free-roaming wallabies and ring-tailed lemurs in dedicated walkthrough areas, a rarity among Irish attractions. The park’s Asian Sanctuary highlights endangered species from the region, while exhibits featuring Sumatran tigers, Indian rhinos, and red pandas round out a collection built around conservation partnerships rather than novelty.
Conservation and Community Role
As a not-for-profit charity linked to University College Cork, Fota channels much of its work into conservation and education, running programs for an estimated 15,000 students each year. The park participates in European Endangered Species breeding programs, notably for cheetahs, and its Cheetah Run, installed in 2006, gives resident cheetahs a chance to chase a mechanical lure at speeds up to roughly 65 km/h, replicating a hunting behavior rarely seen in captivity. The attraction has been recognized in TripAdvisor’s Top 25 Zoos and Animal Parks in Europe and named an Experience Destination of the Year in Ireland.
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Fota Wildlife Park FAQs
Where is Fota Wildlife Park located?
It’s on Fota Island near Carrigtwohill in County Cork, Ireland, roughly a 15-minute drive from Cork city.
When did Fota Wildlife Park open?
The park opened in June 1983 and has operated as a not-for-profit conservation charity ever since.
What is Fota Wildlife Park known for?
It’s known for its cage-free, open enclosures and its Cheetah Run, a food-lure device that lets cheetahs sprint at speeds around 65 km/h.
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Photo: Talks Presenters 09 (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.