Curraghs Wildlife Park

The Isle of Man’s only zoo, Curraghs Wildlife Park was opened in 1965, and covers an area of 26 acres in the Ballaugh Curraghs, an area of wetland. Among the species kept here are red pandas, raccoons, Humboldt penguins, Brazilian tapirs, maras, Siberian chipmunks, wallabies, saki monkeys, lemurs, lynx, fishing cats, and crab-eating macaques.

I visited the park with my family when I was seven, while we were staying on the island for a week. Of the species  mentioned above, the lynx, fishing cat, and macaque were ones we had never seen before. At the time, the park was also home to a marsh mongoose, a species very rarely kept in European zoos. I somehow vaguely remember seeing this species at Curraghs, and thought it looked very interesting with its long, dark-brown fur. We also participated in an Animal Encounters session near the start of our visit, where I got to hold a millipede and other creepy crawlies. As we left the park, we bought a plush snake, which my sister loved playing with. It was certainly a very enjoyable day getting to see all of the animals.

Among the notable changes since our visit, the park has become home to a pair of silvery gibbons, joining Belfast, Chester, and the two Aspinall wildlife parks (Howletts and Port Lympne) in keeping this endangered species. On a sadder note, the last marsh mongoose has since passed away, although this species can still be seen at three zoos on mainland Europe.