From monkeys, seals and penguins to giraffes and lions, discover animal magic on your doorstep
It doesn’t matter which part ofWales you call home, there are amazing animals to be found in all directions.With a number of farms and zoos scattered around the country, as well as few spots for wild animals too, you’ll never be too far away from your fav
1. MONKEYS
If you live in Cardiff... 41 miles away The Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary, which is located in the Brecon Beacons, isn’t too far of a drive from the capital and they care for more than just monkeys.
They home various species including chimpanzee, gibbon, baboon, capuchin, marmoset and spider monkey – but they also take in foxes, horses and other animals in need of protection. Details: www.ape-monkey-rescue.org. uk If you live in Swansea... 48 miles away You’ll also find a number of species out west at Folly Farm.
They keep macaques, marmosets, squirrel monkeys and saki monkeys. Details: www.folly-farm.co.uk If you live in Conwy... 5.3 miles away The Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay is home to chimpanzees and gibbons, so monkey fans are in luck. Details: www.welshmountainzoo.org
2. LLAMAS
If you live in Cardiff... 19 miles away For llamas near Cardiff, Cwmbran’s Greenmeadow Community Farm is a good spot.
As well as being a great day out for the family, you’ll find llamas along with a number of other farm animals. Details: www. greenmeadow communityfarm.org.uk If you live in Swansea... 48 miles away With both farm and zoo animals, Folly Farm in Kilgetty has plenty to offer visitors.
And that includes llamas and alpacas, found in the attractions farm paddocks. Details: www.folly-farm.co.uk If you live in Conwy... 4.1 miles away Bodafon Farm Park, Llandudno, is an expansive park on the seafront which has ram, donkeys, cattle, rabbits and ducks and of course the South American mammal for the llama-lovers.
And there’s free admission for 2017. Details: www.bodafonfarmpark.com
3. SHEEP
If you live in Cardiff... 6.7 miles away Cefn Mably Farm Park was designed with youngsters in mind so you’ll find plenty for them to do.
Along with the covered, heated play areas there are also pony rides and picnic areas and not forgetting, sheep.
Youngsters can also feed the animals at the site found between Newport and Cardiff. Details: www.cefnmablyfarmpark.com If you live in Swansea... 48 miles away Sticking with the farm side of Folly Farm, you’ll also find sheep here.
They have a variety of breeds including badger faced, Herdwick, Jacob, Dorset (polled), coloured Ryeland, Balwen and Border Leicester. Details: www.folly-farm.co.uk If you live in Conwy... 26.4 miles away Foel Farm in Anglesey actually lets its visitors bottlefeed lambs (and calves too) and the beach-based farm boasts beautiful views out towards Caernarfon Castle. Details: www.foelfarm.co.uk
4. LIONS
If you live in Cardiff... 42 miles away In the south of the country, there aren’t too many lions and the closest ones to be found are over the border in Bristol Zoo.
They have young Asiatic lions that are described as very playful. Details: www.bristolzoo.org.uk If you live in Swansea... 48 miles away Folly Farm is home to African lions which are bigger than their Asiatic cousins. Details: www.folly-farm.co.uk If you live in Conwy... 47 miles away Chester Zoo is also home to three Asiatic lions, which has unfortunately been declared the most endangered large cat species in the world.
Their oldest lion, Iblis, is actually an important part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme. Details: www.chesterzoo.org
5. TIGERS
If you live in Cardiff... 91.4 miles away There aren’t many tigers to be found in zoos in Wales, and there aren’t any in Bristol Zoo either.
The closest place to anyone living in the south of the country is Manor Wildlife Park in West Wales. If you live in Swansea... 54 miles away Manor Wildlife Park is a bit closer to a Swansea base and the 52-acre zoo
has all sorts of exotic animals including camels and kangaroos.
And they also have a stunning Sumatran tiger on their roster. Details: www.manorwildlifepark.co.uk If you live in Conwy... 47 miles away Chester Zoo also has Sumatran tigers and the zoo is doing their bit to help prevent the species becoming extinct as there are only a few hundred of these creatures left in the wild. Details: www.chesterzoo.org
6. GIRAFFES
If you live in Cardiff... 42 miles away Like tigers, giraffes can be tricky to find in Wales.
The closest place to Cardiff that is home to the African mammal is Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol and the site recently welcomed new baby, Gus. Details: www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk If you live in Swansea... 48 miles away As part of the zoo area of Folly Farm, the site plays home to giraffes.
Unfortunately Zulu, the tallest of the herd, recently died, but the others are still on the site to visit. If you live in Conwy... 47 miles away At Chester Zoo, you’ll find the second rarest kind of giraffe – the Rothschild.
There are only a few hundred of this giraffe in the wild but the zoo has had success with breeding them in recent years. Details: www.chesterzoo.org
7. PENGUINS
If you live in Cardiff... 42 miles away The closest you’ll get to penguins from Cardiff is Bristol Zoo. There you’ll find Humboldt Penguins and they also run a penguin webcam. Details: www.bristolzoo.org.uk If you live in Swansea... 48 miles away Folly Farm is also home to the Humboldt penguin. This breed actually comes from South America, despite people traditionally associating penguins with cold places. Details: www.folly-farm.co.uk If you live in Conwy... 5.3 miles away The same breed can be found in the north of the country too – at the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay. Details: www.welshmountainzoo.org
8. DOLPHINS
If you live in Cardiff... 96 miles away Pembrokeshire is probably your closest spot from the capital to spot dolphins. The coast is often a place to find common and bottlenose dolphins, as well as a number of different whales. Details: www.visitpembrokeshire.com If you live in Swansea... 80 miles away The UK’s biggest collection of dolphins can be found in Cardigan Bay – it’s home to bottlenoses and harbour porpoises.
According to visit Wales, you’ll have the best chance of seeing them from New Quay but you’ll probably be able to see dolphins anywhere between Aberystwyth and Fishguard. Details: www.visitwales.com If you live in Conwy... 4.4 miles away Llandudno is probably the best place to find these sea mammals in the north.
They’ve been spotted in recent months near Angel Bay – with one person seeing around 60 in one go.
9. SEALS
If you live in Cardiff... 42 miles away Bristol Zoo is home to South American fur seals – a species which relies on fur to keep warm rather than a layer of blubber. Unfortunately the species was hunted for its for until 1991 so came close to extinction. Details: www.bristolzoo.org.uk
If you live in Swansea... 72 miles to St Davids, then less than a mile away via boat Ramsey Island has one of the largest breeding colonies of Atlantic Grey seals in the UK. The seals give birth to pups on the beaches of the island – and they have a life span of 25-30 years.
During the breeding season – August to November – seal numbers can get close to 1000, so they won’t be hard to spot. Details: www.ramseyisland.co.uk If you live in Conwy... 5.3 miles away Grey seals are pretty common around the coast and the Welsh Mountain Zoo does have Californian sea lions (not quite the same, but great to see anyway).
The wild grey seals are often spotted around Angel Bay – not too far away from the dolphins.