A popular Isle of Wight attraction will say goodbye to its wallabies after ten years as it sets out plans for a new focus on British farming.
The wallabies will leave Tapnell Farm Park in Freshwater on Wednesday, September 16, to move to new homes at Longleat and New Forest Wildlife Park.
The wallabies became one of the attraction’s best-known residents after arriving at the park in 2016 following the closure of Seaview Wildlife Encounter.
Thousands of families have met the animals through daily feeds, keeper talks and visits over the past decade.
Visitors will have until Tuesday, September 15, to say goodbye, with the park’s daily wallaby feeds continuing until their final day.
Tom Turney, a partner at Tapnell Farm, said: “The wallabies have been such a special part of Tapnell Farm Park over the last ten years, and we’re incredibly grateful for everything they’ve brought to the Farm Park during their time with us.
“They’ve given us and our visitors so many wonderful memories, and we’d like to say a huge thank you to them as they prepare to leave Tapnell.
“While we’ll be very sad to see them go, we’re also really happy that they’re moving on to fantastic new homes at Longleat and New Forest Wildlife Park, where we know they’ll be very well cared for.”
The wallabies’ departure is part of wider changes as Tapnell Farm Park returns to its roots as a family-owned working British farm.
From 2027, the attraction plans to place a greater emphasis on British farm animals, interactive experiences and helping families learn about farming, nature and where food comes from.
The animals in the Bugs and Beasties area will leave Tapnell for new homes at the end of September as part of the changes.
The area will become an interactive educational attraction exploring the wildlife, nature and ecology of a working British farm.
Tom Honeyman-Brown, also a partner at Tapnell Farm, said: “We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the future of the Farm Park and what makes Tapnell genuinely special.
“At the heart of it all is the farm itself – the land, the animals, the countryside around us and the story of British farming.
“That’s what we want to champion much more strongly as we look to the future.
“There’s lots happening behind the scenes and plenty we’re excited to share over the coming months.
“This September marks the beginning of that next chapter.”
Work will continue through autumn and winter, while the attraction’s paddocks rest and recover ahead of the next farming year.
Animals, play and family activities will remain central to the Farm Park, with more announcements expected in the coming months.
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