Nowra’s family icon issues plea to community
NOWRA Wildlife Park is facing closure.
For almost 30 years the park, previously known as Nowra Animal Park, has been a traditional and affordable holiday highlight for Shoalhaven and visiting families.
Now, as the dust settles from numerous interest rates rises, and the cost of living continues to climb, the results are in.
People are cutting back on non-essential spending.
This combined with previous school holiday numbers dampened by rain and an increase in running costs for the park has led to a final call for help.
Park owner Nicholas Schilko purchased the Nowra icon five years ago and despite its current financial position is determined to see it continue and grow.
“I know the community supports us, and enjoy the park and I realise that people are tightening their belts.
“But we are really struggling, and I feel the community should know before it’s too late.
“I believe we can trade out of it, but if visitor numbers are down in the next school holidays and it rains, we’re stuffed.
“If people are keen to have us stay, if people want the wildlife park to continue, then please come in,” he said.
Mr Schilko has succeeded in bringing many of his plans for the park to fruition.
Those plans, however, have come at a cost.
One of the most popular exhibits has been the saltwater crocodile exhibit, however it is also one of the most expensive to operate.
“The crocodile exhibit is a good example of the kinds of costs we’re looking at. To keep the enclosure water warm costs $250 per week
in gas.
“The interest rate rises were also a huge hit to us, adding $2000 per month interest to our costs.
Mr Schilko said he and his team are going to be pulling out all stops with more animals arriving and more hands-on experiences to encourage more visitors.
At present Mr Schilko and his staff are building enclosures for a new African yard which they have pinned their hopes on for the school holidays.
“The African yard will have camel and ostrich and hopefully zebra.
“We have also arranged for two buffalo, a Himalayan tahr and three perentie which are the largest lizards in Australia. But at the moment we need to be sure we are going to stay open.
“We’ve just had a meeting with our lion people and are looking to bring in lions if we’re still here in about 18 months.
“We will be getting three-month-old cubs bred specially for us.”
Mr Schilko has a lot of animals waiting for pens to be built so they can be transferred in.
“For most of these things we’ve got the materials to build them, but we can’t afford to build them at this stage,” he said.
The next interactive step the park hopes to take is a guided tour where patrons can visit and feed certain animals under the supervision of a keeper.
“People will be able to feed monkeys, birds, hold baby crocodiles and snakes – it’s about going into the animals’ cages and being hands on.
“You normally don’t get to sit in an exhibit with eight dingos – we’re hoping to introduce that.
“These are the sorts of things we’re working toward.
“We’re not trying to bludge off the community, we’re trying to hold on to what I believe is a good value family activity.”
Mr Schilko said a ticket to a wildlife park in Sydney costs about $28, where his prices have been kept down at $16.
“We’re trying to be realistic and reasonable. You walk into some of these theme parks and it’s $8 just for a hamburger.
“We’ve got to try as hard as we can,” he said.
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