Management and funding
Owned by the Isle of Man Government and administered through the Department of Tourism and Leisure.
General Manager - Nick Pinder
The Department aims to provide a Park which represents a pleasant and entertaining experience for visitors whilst at the same time provides them with an insight into the natural world, to contribute to national and international conservation of endangered and other animals by involvement in breeding programmes and other means and to promote throughout the Park the ethos of conservation and environmental awareness.
www.gov.im/wildlife
http://www.sch.im/wlp/index.htm
About 50,000 annual visitors. The Curraghs Wildlife Park is funded directly by the Department of Tourism and Leisure, Isle of Man Government
Founded/opened
In 1963, through the Curraghs Acquisition Act, the Isle of Man Government purchased c. 200 accres of curragh land (curragh = a willow carr in Manx) with 160 acres as a wildlife reserve and 40 cares to be developed as a wildlife park for the benefit of visitors to the Island.
Opend in 1965 as a mixed general collection, the collection was reorganised on a biogeographic basis, with an emphaisis on wetland species, in 1989.
Description
25 acres of the Park contain c. 100 species from around the world, primarily, but not exclusively, wetland species, in walkthrough enclosures or mixed exhibits with a conservation or zoogeographic theme. 15 acres of the Park has remained undeveloped and displays a variety of habitats from bog/fen, willow carr, Molinia grassland and open water peat diggings to semi natural birch woodland colonising hay meadows. A natur trail has been built through this area with interpretation explaining the ecology and land use history of the area.
Key species/features
See http://www.gov.im.wildlife/manx/naturetrail.xml
General
Fixed interpretationboards for the animal enclosures and various trails (nature trail, tree top trail, butterfly trail)
Events, sometimes linked to national or international awareness days, are held to increase public awareness of environmental issues.
Interpretation and exhibitry
'Life on Islands' is a major, linked exhibit using live exhibits to explain the principles of island biogeography, from initial colonisation to endangerment of endemic species.
The Ark is an indoor exhibition, using live animals, to explain the consequences of modern-day habitat loss (rainforests etc.) and historic (Manx woodlands completely cleared by 17th Century) and the role of zoos and nature reserves in saving endangered species.
Formal (school and university) learning
The Wildlife Park employs a parttime Education Officer, Mrs Liz Brunswick, who runs programmes designed for use with the National Curriculum (UK) and will tailor talks to a teacher's specific requirements.
See http://www.gov.im/wildlife/educational/welcome.xml
Informal (general public) learning
Animal Encounters talks are held dily in the summer school holidays. Formerly undertaken by summer students, these talks are being taken over for the first time by the Friends of the Curraghs Wildlife Park.
The Friends of the Curraghs Wildlife Park offer a reduced price for WLP season tickets, newsletters and social and educational events throughout the year, for a modest subscription. It is a registered charity and also raises funds for the provision of facilities within the Wildlife Park.
Professional
Owing to the Park's location on a small, offshore island, we rarely see professional colleagues. However, in 2005, as part of the 40th Anniversary celebrations, the Wildlife Park hosted the annual meeting of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria
Staffing
Staff comprise a General Manager and two Duty Managers, Richard Halsall (Animals) and Tina Hampton (Customer Services) supported by Carolyn Gillis, Admin Officer.
A Head Keeper supervises the work of the four keepers and trainee keeper.
Liz Brunswick is contracted as Education Officer. Gardening and maintenance services are also contraced in (David Payne, Tony Scott).
Formal CEPA activities are managed by Liz Brunswick and informal ones by Nick Pinder with assistance from Liz where necessary.
Contacts
Nick Pinder, General Manager
0044 1624 693572
E: Nick.Pinder@gov.im
Liz Brunswick, Education Officer
As above