Folly Farm have moved to reassure visitors that the tourist attraction will be ‘ready and waiting’ when it’s safe for everyone to return to visit, following an online article published over the weekend by a national newspaper that suggested there were doubts over the Pembrokeshire venue’s future in light of the coronavirus crisis.

The Farm recently launched an ‘adopt an animal’ initiative providing an an unusual and memorable gift and a perfect present for animal lovers, whilst at the same time going towards helping fund animal’s care and welfare.

Posting on Folly Farm’s Facebook page, a spokesperson said that they’ve been working really hard over the last month to secure the facility’s future.

“We have had verbal confirmation of a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme from our bank HSBC, for which we are very grateful and the Welsh Assembly Government, and Visit Wales in particular, has been extremely helpful in pointing us towards other loans and grants for which we have applied for and are hopeful of receiving some financial support.”

“We are hugely grateful for their advice and continued support and for how much they are fighting for the tourism sector, which has, and will continue to take, a huge hit as a result of the pandemic.

“We started the year, as we do every year, already heavily into our overdraft facility and our first opportunity to make a profit was Easter and we were shut. Like most attractions we only make a profit in the school holidays. For most of the rest of the year we’re running at a loss.

“Summer trade is always vital for attractions. It’s when we make 50 per cent of our overall turnover which sees us through the Autumn and Winter. We’re a profitable business but we’re often praised for reinvesting this profit with new developments for you all to enjoy each year.

“2020 was no exception with investment in a new crocodile enclosure, a huge programme of licensed character events and phase one of our holiday accommodation project.”

The Farm located in Begelly went onto explain that without visitors income drops to ‘almost zero’, but for them, and other animal attractions across Wales, the costs to look after the animals remain the same, and are ‘huge’.

“We’d like to say a big, heartfelt thank you to all of you who’ve purchased adoptions, animal experience vouchers, annual passes and tickets whilst we’re closed - this little bit of income is really helping towards the huge ongoing staff, feed, heating and vet costs we face in looking after our animals,” they continued.

“To be able to open for the Summer - of course only if it’s safe to do so and with social distancing measures in place – would make a huge difference to us and other tourist attractions.

“It would mean we could go in the already difficult Winter trading knowing we’ll be able to reduce some of the huge loan commitments we’ve taken on.

“Many of you are getting in touch to ask if we’ve got a fundraising page. We haven’t, as we decided very early on that was something we weren’t comfortable with.

“There are charities who rely on donations all year round and we don’t want to add to their problems. We’d rather you purchased from us as that way we both get something and that makes us feel a lot more comfortable.

“Our keepers have set up an Amazon Wish List which includes items for enrichment, feed and tools for their jobs. Many of you have already bought something which is hugely appreciated by our hardworking keepers and the animals!”

For more information on the attraction’s ‘adopt and animal’ scheme, you can head to https://www.folly-farm.co.uk/adopt-an-animal/