News

Minister O’Sullivan announces funding to support conservation efforts at Fota Wildlife Park

Date Released: Friday, December 5, 2025

Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, has today announced additional funding to support the continuation of vital biodiversity conservation programmes at Fota Wildlife Park, in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). A total of €700,000 has been allocated to secure the future of key initiatives for threatened species such as Natterjack Toad, White-clawed Crayfish, Curlew and Dunlin and Corncrake.

The funding is being put in place to bolster the continuation of delivery of actions under the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan, for bespoke and endangered native species work and to support off site conservation management initiatives. This will serve to increase public engagement, awareness-raising and behavioural change in relation to some of Ireland’s most iconic species.

Fota Wildlife Park has an annual footfall of over 400,000 per annum. The Park’s dedicated educational staff and comprehensive outreach strategy is also of significant importance to the development of robust educational programmes and policy in relation to our native biodiversity.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Sullivan said:

“Fota Wildlife Park has been doing fantastic work with the NPWS for many years to give the best possible start to some of our most vulnerable species. The early weeks and months are crucial for the long-term success of these species, as they are easy prey for hungry predators. Young are captured in the wild, either as eggs, spawn or hatchlings, and brought to Fota Wildlife Park, where they are reared in captivity until they are resilient enough to be released back where they came from. This funding is going to ensure the future of these programmes, and contribute to the broader conservation efforts that the NPWS are leading on to protect these species into the future.”

Aileen Tennant, Director of Fota Wildlife Park said:

“Fota Wildlife Park is incredibly grateful for this vital intervention from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the State during a very challenging time. This financial support will secure critical investment in Ireland’s biodiversity infrastructure, and allows our dedicated teams to continue with our native species work and international conservation programmes.

With NPWS' support and partnership, we’re engaging in important native species projects, from releasing over 13,000 natterjack toadlets into the wild to supporting breeding waders and rescuing endangered white-clawed crayfish. This funding also helps us continue our research and education work, reaching more than 17,500 students each year.”

Further Information

Endangered native species programmes:

Natterjack Toad Recovery

NPWS have been working with Fota Wildlife Park (FWP) on this species for many years. The natural range of the Natterjack Toad in Ireland is restricted to the coastal zones of Castlemaine Harbour and Castlegregory in Co Kerry. The species suffered significant losses in range and population in the early 20th century due to land reclamation and changes in agricultural practises in these areas. Latest estimates put the current population at less than 10,000 individuals in the wild. As a result, the Natterjack Toad is considered to be endangered in Ireland. Large numbers of eggs and tadpoles are typically lost in the wild every summer due to predation and pond desiccation. Each year, NPWS staff collect thousands of Natterjack eggs and tadpoles from the wild. The eggs and tadpoles are brought to Fota Wildlife Park and they are cared for until they metamorphose and are ready to return to the wild. NPWS staff then collect them and bring them back to Kerry. Significant numbers of juvenile Natterjacks have been returned to the wild since this headstarting program began in 2016. This is a very significant contribution to the survival of Ireland’s Natterjack Toads in the wild and is a testament to the ongoing cooperation between NPWS and FWP.

White-clawed Crayfish Captive Breeding and Emergency Response

Work in ongoing to increase the numbers of the species in captivity at FWP, with a view to releasing juveniles into at least one suitable Ark site (a safe site with no risk of crayfish plague). In 2024, FWP and NPWS partnered in a multi-agency rescue of 152 individuals from a tributary of the River Blackwater before crayfish plague eliminated the population there. FWP and NPWS are working together to secure the genetic future of this critically endangered species.

Curlew and Dunlin

FWP is an essential project partner in the aviculture of wild bird species. FWP were involved in Ireland's first pilot venture into Curlew headstarting in 2022 and 2023. Headstarting is an emergency measure used to protect wild bird populations that are critically low, it involves collection of eggs from the wild and the subsequent incubation and rearing of those eggs and chicks before releasing fledged birds back into the wild. Since 2024, FWP have been involved in providing incubation, rearing and agricultural advisory services to the NPWS and the Breeding Waders EIP for the purpose of headstarting Curlew and subsequently Dunlin in 2025. FWP have dedicated receiving, incubation, hatching and rearing areas specifically set aside for the this headstarting programme. This includes bespoke rearing tubs and outside rearing aviaries to facilitate safe and healthy birds. Facilities and staffing of such standard, allow for hatch rates and rearing success that show FWP as a global leader in this area.

Corncrake

FWP and NPWS are working in partnership to support research, rescue and rehabilitation of Corncrake. Cooperation is ongoing to explore the feasibility of headstarting Corncrakes and other captive rearing initiatives to augment existing populations.