‘When it comes to wild animals, I’m the anti-Steve Irwin — I’m happy to keep a respectful distance with a visit to Fota’

Wildlife parks offer the privilege of admiring exotic animals we would never get to encounter in real life

Bill Linnane

I wanted to be a zoologist when I was a kid. At some point I realised that I’d need to work hard and study to make it in that field, so instead I chose to study communications. Less Dr Doolittle, more Dr Do-Sod-All. I still love nature, but in a slightly confused, lazy way — not enough to stop using weedkiller on the drive once a year, but enough that I still get excited when I see a fox or owl.

My kids laugh at me when I sprint through the house to get my camera if I spot a buzzard half a mile away, but they inherited my love of the natural world. Which is why we all cherish our membership of Fota Wildlife Park. It’s one of those outings that really holds its own at this time of year — ie, when we are all broke — as it gets everyone out of the house for a good walk, and builds up healthy immune systems by exposing us to the faecal matter of a range of exotic creatures.