Once-in-a-lifetime' experience offered animal lovers as Highland Wildlife Park launches exciting new discovery centre drive
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HIGHLAND animal lovers are being offered a "once in a lifetime" experience at an acclaimed local wildlife park.
A prize draw launched by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) offers animal lovers the chance to win an unforgettable experience at Highland Wildlife Park and feed polar bears, tigers, snow leopards and other incredible species.
The wildlife conservation charity is hoping to raise £50,000 to help build Scotland’s Wildlife Discovery Centre, a new experience at Highland Wildlife Park which will connect people with nature and enable visitors and communities to protect endangered animals.
David Field, RZSS chief executive, said, “Our natural environment is in crisis, with one million species on the brink of extinction and almost half our ecosystems in decline.
“Highland Wildlife Park is loved by people in Scotland throughout the UK and across the globe. With their help, we want to create a truly special, world class experience here in the spectacular Cairngorms National Park.
“All of the money raised from entry to our prize draw will go towards building Scotland’s Wildlife Discovery Centre and a series of wildlife discovery hubs at Highland Wildlife Park, which will play a pivotal role in inspiring more people to protect and connect with nature and wildlife."
“Everyone who enters will be in with the chance of winning exclusive, after-hours access to the park with a guided tour with me and the opportunity to feed some of our wonderful animals. Our winner could pick our male snow leopard Koshi, Scotland’s only polar bears, Victoria, Walker and Arktos, our Amur tiger Botzman, or some of our other fantastic animals.
This is a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime experience and at the same time help protect our natural world.”
Scotland’s Wildlife Discovery Centre will be located at Highland Wildlife Park and take visitors on a journey to explore the stories of people, places, and animals, alongside the connections which bring them all together.
The discovery, learning and hilltop hubs will feature immersive experiences and digital technology to challenge visitors, inspire action and encourage learning. Innovative spaces will give children, young people and local communities the opportunity to find out about Scotland’s wildlife heritage and how they can help with conservation initiatives including RZSS projects to save native species like the wildcat, pond mud snail and pine hoverfly.
Funds from the prize draw will help to deliver the £5.5 million project, which is supported by pledges from NatureScot and Highlands and Islands Enterprise as well as SSE Renewables.
“We are delighted to have NatureScot and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on board as key supporters and we are at the final stage of a funding application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund,” said Field.
“Every prize draw ticket bought by people who love nature and animals takes us one step closer to making Scotland’s Wildlife Discovery Centre a reality at Highland Wildlife Park.”
Prize draw tickets are £5. Find out more at crowdfunder.co.uk/NightAtHighlandWildlifePark. Entry closes on May 31.
