Seaview Wildlife Encounter has announced that today was the last day they opened their doors to the public.
We’d heard during the week this might be on the cards, but didn’t think it was happening this quickly.
“Intense legislation”
The award-winning wildlife park say the “seasonal nature of the business combined with intense legislation and regulation” have led to the decision to close the park which has been open to the public for 44 years.
A message posted by Dippy the penguin on Facebook tonight reads.
Dear FB friends…. It is with great sadness and regret that the family have decided after 44 years of being open to the public that an extremely difficult decision has been made to close the park.
This is due to many internal and external factors – the seasonal nature of the business combined with intense legislation and regulation that we believe will only increase in the future. We hope that you will understand that it is time now for the family to bow out gently and to thank all of our wonderful visitors for their support over the years.
A huge thanks to our amazing team – without you we could not have continued to have kept our beautiful park to the standard that it was today on our last day of being open. Please be assured that all the birds and animals will be top priority and the best possible homes will be sourced for them and of course the wonderful Dippy who we will endeavour to find the best retirement home for.
We hope that we leave you with many happy memories and the family wish you all the very best for the future….
Fans share their memories
Condolences have been pouring into the Facebook Page for the park, as people share their memories.
The park was home to a wide range of birds and animals including Meerkats, Flamingos, Penguins, Wallabies and many more.
Our thoughts are with all those who work at the Park. The decision to close must have been a very hard one for the owners to make.
Thanks to Linda Bassett from Isle of Wight Community Information Facebook Page for the headsup.
Image: © Seaview Wildlife Encounter
