Fota maintains 'robust protocols' as bird flu confirmed at Cork lake 20km away

Fota Wildlife Park has said that it is maintaining robust biosecurity protocols and targeted mitigation measures to limit the risk of bird flu, following the confirmation of avian flu in one of the 11 dead swans found last week in nearby Castlemartyr.

The Department of Agriculture confirmed that one of a flock of dead swans, found on private land at Loughaderry Lake near Castlemartyr on Thursday, had tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or bird flu.

Fota, which is 20km from Castlemartyr, was forced to close from October to December, during last year’s outbreak of avian flu, resuulting in the euthanising of more than 70 birds.

Operational costs at Fota are approximately €120,000 per week, with the closure estimated to have cost more than €1m. In December, Christopher O’Sullivan, minister for nature, heritage and biodiversity, announced that Fota would receive an additional €700,000 in Government funding.

On Sunday, Fota said in a statement that its protocols and mitigation measures include isolating captive birds from wild populations by housing birds and covering outdoor aviaries.

“Fota Wildlife Park operates an extensive vaccination programme for all captive birds and has closed the duck feeder to discourage wild birds from congregating at the park,” they said. 

Mr O’Sullivan said any loss of wildlife was extremely concerning.

“It’s really important that we do everything possible to ensure that avian flu doesn’t once again get a strong hold, because of the impact that it would have on our wild bird population, but obviously we have to think of the poultry farmers as well,” he said.