We’re thrilled to announce that Phase 1 of Wingham Wildlife Park’s major expansion is now open! This summer, visitors can meet some incredible new arrivals, including our magnificent tigers, Duke & Tora, and Kent’s only Asiatic lions: Thor, Theo & Rakesh. These amazing big cats have settled into their impressive new habitats, giving guests an even better opportunity to see these endangered species up close. There’s plenty more to discover across the park too. Our new exhibits are also home to agoutis, a lively group of squirrel monkeys who have recently welcomed an adorable new baby and our fascinating Gooty tarantulas, one of the world’s rarest and most striking spider species. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to see what’s new, Phase 1 of our Wild Future offers exciting new experiences for everyone!
Meet our Trio
Three Asiatic lions: Rakesh, Theo and Thor have recently joined WWP from Fota Wildlife Park as part of the European breeding and conservation programme to help safeguard their future. Asiatic lions are one of the world’s rarest big cats, found only in Gir National Park in Gujarat, India. They once roamed from Turkey across Asia to eastern India but these lions were hunted almost to extinction. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, a few hundred now survive in the wild however this species remains endangered. Smaller than their African cousins, the Asiatic lions are still every bit as powerful. Males tend to have a shorter, darker mane making them visibly distinct. Their diet includes deer, antelope, wild boar, buffalos and monkeys. Unlike African lions, males often stay close to the pride and share in hunting or feeding on large prey.
Duke and Tora
The Kingdom of Big Cats is also home to Duke and Tora. Some of you may already recognise this striking pair, as they previously lived at Sandwich Wildlife Park before making the move to their spacious new home here at Wingham Wildlife Park. Their purpose built habitat has been designed to provide them with plenty of space to explore while giving visitors fantastic views of these incredible animals.
Although Duke and Tora are not part of a breeding programme, they still play an important role in tiger conservation as ambassadors for their wild counterparts by giving visitors the opportunity to see these magnificent animals up close. They help raise awareness of the many threats tigers face in the wild including habitat loss, poaching and human wildlife conflict. We hope their story inspires more people to support the conservation efforts needed to protect this iconic species for future generations.
More New Species
But it doesn’t stop there! The new expansion has even more to discover including a new species to the park our 2 male agoutis which are found in a brand new mixed species habitat, housing our agoutis and squirrel monkeys. Keep an eye out for the squirrel monkey troop’s newest arrival.
Step inside the Kingdom of the Big Cats and you’ll find even more fascinating wildlife alongside our big cats, you’ll discover a large aquarium showcasing a variety of fish species, adding another exciting element to your visit and highlighting the incredible diversity of the animal kingdom. We have also set up an enclosure for some of our Gooty sapphire ornamental tarantulas. A feisty, fast and blue haired tarantula that hails from the rainforest areas of India, such as Gooty and Madras, making its arboreal home in the hollows of trees. The IUCN have classified this species as critically endangered since 2006 due to destruction of its habitat and the collection of this colourful species for the pet trade. However, there has been a recent rise in the captive breeding of this species in the hobbyist community, especially since they are no longer legally allowed to be exported out of India. Not only do we run the EEP for this species, but we have helped customs re home hundreds of seized individuals. The park has invested in ground-breaking and award winning genetic research, this allows us to plan the future of this species in Europe with an unprecedented level of genetic awareness.
Everyone here at Wingham Wildlife Park would like to thank our visitors and members for their continued support throughout this exciting period of growth. Phase 1 is just the beginning and we can’t wait to welcome you to experience everything that’s new. We also look forward to sharing more exciting updates as our expansion continues, with Phase 2 set to bring even more incredible developments to the park.
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