Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park

Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park
Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park
	One of six featured cotton-topped tamarins
	36°07′50″N 5°21′01″W / 36.130576°N 5.350263°W
Date opened	2002
Location	Gibraltar
No. of animals	128
No. of species	36
Website	www.awcp.gi

The Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park (AWCP) is a small wildlife park situated in the Botanic Gardens in Gibraltar.

History

The Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park began in 1994 as a collection of parrots, tortoises and monkeys all confiscated from illegal traders who were passing through Gibraltar. The local Customs authorities handed these animals to the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS).

In 1996 the Alameda Miniature Golf Course was cleared after many years of neglect and modified into a small conservation park, again entirely through volunteer help.

Today

Although the main purpose of the park was to house confiscated animals, it became apparent that, if finished properly, it could also be open to the public to make people aware not only about illegal animal trade,^[1] but also about local wildlife conservation. The park has also become important for the care of native species that are considered for future re-introduction to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, such as the red fox, the raven and the Barbary partridge.

The park has become an important educational resource for local schools, helping to raise awareness of not only the rich local biodiversity but also of wider conservation issues.

Entrance information

The park is open all year except Good Friday, National Day (10 September) and Christmas Day. Entrance fees are used to cover general maintenance, food bills and veterinarian expenses.