Wild Ireland — Attraction in County Donegal

Visiting 'Wild Ireland' was a deeply saddening experience. Wild animals are kept in enclosures that are far too small, restricting the movement they naturally require. Moreover, the design of these enclosures does not offer adequate shelter, leaving the animals without privacy or rest from constant public observation.

Ireland's Animal Health and Welfare Act of 2013 clearly requires that animals are provided with adequate food, water, shelter, space, and care. 'Wild Ireland' does not provide the animals with adequate shelter or space. On the occasion of my visit, the wolves were clearly stressed and pacing about with nowhere to go. The bird enclosures are so low that the birds cannot actually fly - the exception to this being the barn, yet the owls have no private space should they wish to avail of it. The enclosures of all the animals are dismal.

Visiting 'Wild Ireland' was like walking through a natural history museum - only these animals are not stuffed, they are alive and breathing. Animals have rights too - my hope is that 'Wild Ireland' can take steps to provide the animals in their care with the shelter and space that the wild animals in their care need for their wellbeing.

-- Update: In response to the owner's reply - thank you for taking the time to respond to my review and for directing me to other people's photos and reviews. These photos do indeed highlight the small dimensions of the enclosures, while past reviews often express people's experiences of seeing the animals up close, some also expressing concern that the enclosures appear too limited.

I also acknowledge and appreciate that 'Wild Ireland' employs knowledgeable and professional personnel and that, as you stated, it has passed all Animal Welfare inspections. However, if the current enclosure sizes provided to animals at 'Wild Ireland' are considered adequate under these standards, it raises serious concerns about what is deemed acceptable for the welfare of...

While Wild Ireland offers a chance to see animals, my visit raised serious concerns about their welfare. Several enclosures, particularly for larger species, are too small and fall short of basic welfare standards.

For example, the two European brown bears are kept in an enclosure measuring less than 1,800 m², with only 215 m² being water—well below the recommended 2,000–4,000 m² for a single bear, and even less for two. The five wolves are confined to under 1,300 m², and the "Wolf Wood" area in development is only 11,000 m², far from the 8,000–20,000 m² that wolves need. The design of these enclosures seems inadequate, even when visitors aren’t present.

The otter enclosure lacks a floating platform for resting—an essential requirement in many zoo regulations. A ball toy is not sufficient. There is also visible green algae in the water, raising concerns about water quality. For two Eurasian otters, the space should be 400-600 m² of land and 60-100 m² of water, yet the enclosure has only 81 m² of usable land and insufficient water space.

The storks are housed with a crane, which bullies them, preventing proper nesting or perching. The aviary’s steep design limits their ability to escape or find safe resting spots. Similarly, the Long-eared owl’s enclosure doesn’t provide perching options higher than 2 meters, which is inadequate for its natural behaviors.

While it’s great to see these animals, it’s essential to question whether Wild Ireland truly prioritizes their welfare. Using tools like Google Earth, anyone can measure the enclosures and the areas unavailable to visitors. It’s hard to understand how an organization regulated by EAZA, AZA, WAZA, and DAFM can maintain its licensing, given these issues. How is it that the veterinarians, zoologists, wildlife biologists, conservation biologists, nutritionists, and zookeepers have not noticed these glaring...

A Magical Day Out at Wild Ireland – Even Better the Second Time!

We first visited Wild Ireland back in 2020, when our eldest son Oisín was just 3 years old. He absolutely loved it, and it quickly became one of those family days out we always talked about doing again. Fast forward to last week, and we finally returned – this time with both our boys, Oisín (now 7) and Donnacha (3) – and to say we were amazed by how much had changed would be an understatement!

From the moment we walked in, we could see the incredible amount of work that’s been done since our last visit. The place has grown so much, and everything feels even more magical and immersive. The highlight for the boys? Discovering that there’s a wolf and a bear named Oisín and Donnacha – they were absolutely over the moon!

Not long after our visit, Oisín spotted the Wild Ireland documentary on the RTÉ Player and insisted we all watch it. Before we knew it, the whole family – granny and grandad included – were glued to the screen. In hindsight, we wished we had watched it before our trip, as it gave us a real appreciation of the hard work and passion behind the scenes to create such a unique place.

Our Oisín is an animal enthusiast through and through, and he’s been studying the Wild Ireland book we picked up in the gift shop every single night since. He proudly shares new animal facts with us daily – all about Ireland’s native animals – and has now announced that he plans to open his own zoo one day!

Wild Ireland isn’t just a fun day out – it’s inspiring, educational, and heartwarming. Whether you’re young or old, you’ll leave with a smile on your face and a new appreciation for wildlife. We couldn’t recommend it highly...