Wickid Pets exotic animal park in Wolverhampton at risk of closure

An exotic animal park in Wolverhampton will close by Christmas if extra funding is not found before then, devastated bosses said today.

Jim Wick who runs Wickid Pets said the situation was becoming "dire" because of the rising costs of electricity and water.

He said visitor numbers were down because of all the wet weather, especially in the school holidays. He warned the centre just off the Stafford Road will close before the end of the year if money is not found.

Mr Wick, who opened Wickid Pets with his brother Ben Wick four years ago, said: "My bills have trebled this year. I'm paying £1,000 a quarter and I simply cannot afford that.

"On top of that I have to buy food for the animals. Everything has gone up in price it seems."

Mr Wick, who only charges visitors £2.50 and does not want to increase charges, said: "I don't want to shut the place but if we don't get any money we will have to. Ideally we'd love to get people or businesses to sponsor us. That would help us stay afloat."

Wickid Pets opened in July 2009. Around £1 million was spent transforming wasteland at the side of Jim and Ben's exotic pet shop in Gorsebrook Road into the animal park.

They keep foxes, monkeys, armadillos, meerkats, reindeer, micro pig and owls.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the animal park should call Mr Wick on 01902 424132.