Behind the Scenes at Tropical World

By Denise Henry, Marketing, Inishowen Tourism

A Day as a Head Keeper at Tropical World

Tanya Jacob, Head Keeper at Tropical World has an opportunity on a daily basis to engage with a range of interesting wildlife. Tanya describes her daily routine starting with "In the morning I walk around the grounds and make sure all the animals are alright, go to the kitchen and prepare food for feeding, where staff meet and take charge of a section. Pens are then cleaned out and at 12.30pm I prepare a handling session for visitors. Next step is to give snacks to the animals followed by some more cleaning.

You will gain the sense that this role is demanding and rewarding but is very much a team effort. I was slightly envious when I learnt about "enrichment". Tanya describes it as "the most interesting and fun part of the day”. Enrichment is a term used to describe a process to engage with and challenge animals so as Tanya explains "they don’t get bored", “they are like our family we take the time to look after them and entertain them”.

Following enrichment, at 3.30pm there is the final handling session, and the process begins to “settle animals down for the night followed by a final check and where possible squeeze in paperwork”.

Handling Sarah the Snake at Tropical World

During your visit you get the chance to handle some of the wonderful creatures at Tropical World. Pictured above, is the beautiful corn snake, Sarah, a breed native from North America. Feeling slightly nervous, Tanya gently places Sarah around my neck, immediately you will notice how smooth she feels, not at all like some dramatic movie references of snakes being slimy to touch. Meanwhile Tanya discusses the breed of snake, its habitat and diet. A crowd has gathered and I carefully hand Sarah back.

"They are Like our Family" Wildlife at Tropical World  

I then asked the tough question: what is your favourite animal? Pausing for a second Tanya replies: “We love all the animals but a personal favourite is Rickey the Racoon, pictured above huddled with his family, "he was one of the first animals we had and he is a real pet”. On your visit you will notice animals have been assigned quirky and fun names e.g. Snowy the Barn Owl and Gordon the Great Grey Owl.

Another little gift to the Zoo last Christmas was a baby geoffrey marmoset appropriately called Nicholas. Your heart will melt when you see this little family of marmosets, pictured above. Like most family's they have their little arguments. I was told by Lewis Alcorn (who works at Tropical World) "the mother would carefully carry her young around her neck and when it was the fathers turn he roughly throws them onto his back, causing them to squeal. The mother then shouts at him and takes them back" Initially I thought this mean, but Lewis reassures me that "its the fathers trick to get the afternoon off" and that "working here you get to understand the personalities of each animal, for which there are many”. 

Tropical World: "A Place for all the Family"

Aside from the buzz you will get from engaging with wildlife, tropical world is 70% undercover, which is perfect for those occasional rainy days in Donegal. You will notice that there are lots of safe and fun areas for children to roam; from a large padded play area, pictured above, monkey swing play area and dens to explore and discover. On site you will notice picnic areas both inside and outside, gift shop, restaurant and refreshment area. During your visit you will notice that Tropical World is a diverse and engaging environment where you can have fun while you learn.

Find out More About Tropcial World
http://tropicalworld.town.ie/app/index.php/page/home
https://twitter.com/TropicalWorldLK

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Fun for all the Family at Lurgybrack Farm

By Denise Henry, Marketing Assistant, Inishowen Tourism
Today's visit takes me to the wonderful Lurgybrack Farm, Donegal, a popular destination with both visitors and locals. On arrival you will be greeted by a spacious car park and directed via a path and signage to an inviting entrance with a large court yard. Immediately there is a sense of space and energy as school children buzz in and out of play areas and what appears to be rooms with animals inside. On site there is a cafe and shop, where I am greeted by Sharon, a staff member at Lurgybrack who gave me a warm welcome and an umbrella to fight off the rain.

Undeterred by the weather I venture out and explore the exotic bird display, followed by a room next door which houses some ridiculously cute animals, including guinea pigs and bunnies, pictured above.  

"No Matter What Age You Are There is Something for Everyone"

Leading on from the main courtyard you will pass a number of indoor facilities, which include spacious eating and play areas to a large outdoor complex. This section of the farm is full of attractions. The first to catch your eye will be a large play area with a range of swings, slides and other features suitable for any age group to enjoy. Taking in the sheer wealth of space and facilities on site it is unsurprising that on any particular day it is possible to hold up to 12 birthday parties on the grounds.

In the distance you will notice a number of paths leading to animals grazing in green lush fields. In this area you will be welcomed by the quirky sight of a type of barrel train. This fun and unique idea is one of many that you will encounter at Lurgybrack Farm. At the helm of the train I meet Paddy O'Loan, pictured above. Paddy has multiple roles at the property, which includes everyday maintenance of the grounds, care of the animals and entertaining visitors by driving the quirky barrel train around the property at intervals throughout the day. 

Learning About Animals at Lurgybrack Farm

Before speaking with Paddy, I take the time to wonder around on my own. Expect to feel like a child again, as you navigate around the grounds and encounter a collection of farm animal favourites like the Shetland pony pictured above to the gentle and majestic deer pictured below.

Animals on the grounds range from the powerful Clydesdale, to Jacob sheep, goats, pot belly pigs, chickens, ducks, geese and much more. Among the more exotic animals and new additions to the farm are the Emu, native of Australia and Llambas that originated in North America. At each point you will notice information panels which allow you to learn more about each colourful creature.

“Whatever the Weather Lurgybrack is a Great Location for all the Family” 

After meeting with Paddy he tells me a little of how Lurgybrack came about. Seven years ago an idea was formed "over a pint at a local pub" during a charity event and since then Lurgybrack has gone from strength to strength, with "some family's returning 2/3 times a year". School tours are also extremely popular due to an engaging list of activities, among them "milking the cow" pictured above. In regards to development at Lurgybrack, a current project underway is to expand the canteen to facilitate the needs of a growing number of visitors.

What struck me in particular at Lurgybrack was the efforts in place to ensure that the grounds are wheelchair accessible, including some of the playground equipment and vehicles used for providing tours of the property. Lurgybrack is full of surprises, from the scale of the property to the range of activities, facilities and animals on display. You will leave Lurgybrack having had a memorable experience, that was both fun, engaging and educational.

Find out more about Lurgybrack Farm:
http://lurgybrackopenfarm.town.ie/

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