If you’re looking for an African safari with big game and large predators, Ireland is probably not the ideal destination. Ireland’s five national parks do however offer some spectacular and fascinating wildlife, bird and insect life for visitors to enjoy, set in diverse and beautiful countryside.

The biggest naturally occurring mammal you will find in Ireland is the Red Deer. Unique to Ireland, these magnificent animals can be seen in Killarney National Park, Glenveagh, Ballycroy and the Wicklow Mountains parks. Other mammals seen regularly include hare, badgers, the red fox, pine martens, the Irish stoat, mink, otter and fallow deer. Connemara National Park features the Connemara Ponies. Although considered a domestic animal, they wander the countryside in herds in Connemara, making a distinct impression on visitors to the park.

With over 100 bird species native to Ireland, birdwatchers will enjoy the national parks’ offerings. Raptors include owls, peregrine and falcon, with the Golden Eagle having been successfully reintroduced into Glenveagh National Park after it’s disappearance from Ireland in 1912. Golden plover, ravens and many other species can be found throughout the Irish countryside.

Ireland has two magnificent zoos to cater for the visitor looking for animals from further afield. Both are well laid out and feature enclosures that are designed to imitate or replicate the animals’ natural habitat. Dublin Zoo boasts rhino, hippo, lion, Siberian tiger, snow leopard and a variety of primates. Belfast Zoo includes snow tigers, Asian elephants and spectacled bears in its variety of animal species.

Belfast also has the Exploris Aquarium with interactive discovery pools and a deep water open sea tank featuring the interesting creatures of the deep. Many of the sea creatures seen here can be found off Ireland’s coast, where whale and dolphin are spotted at various times of the year. The Seal Sanctuary, also in Belfast, offers a fascinating insight into these clever creatures as well.

Fota Wildlife Park is a 70 acre park on Fota Island in Cork Harbour where visitors can wander amongst free roaming animals for an exciting and educational experience. Fota Wildlife Park specifically features endangered or threatened species, making a trip to this park even more meaningful, as many of the animals they have are no longer found in the wild such as the Rothschild Giraffe and European Bison. Other animals found in the park (not all of them free-roaming) include cheetah, lemur, emu, monkeys, kangaroos, penguin, red panda and many more.

Although the native wildlife may not be as exciting as African big game, the lack of natural large predators gives visitors to the national parks an opportunity to explore the beautiful countryside in safety, even outside their cars. The well-equipped and beautifully laid out zoos more than compensate for the lack of naturally-occurring wildlife, allowing interaction, exploration and education about animals from around the world.

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