Paradise Nature Park is now Barbados’ newest tourist attraction!
The former Balls Complex has been transformed into an animal sanctuary that is designed to educate locals and tourists alike about the different species of animals.
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security, Indar Weir, officially opened the nature park recently at the Balls Complex, Balls, Christ Church.
In his address, Minister Weir said, “… it gives us an opportunity to create another tourist attraction…I think we’re limited in terms of what our tourist attractions are and the more we can expand those, the better for us.”
Expressing an interest in hybridisation of the goats at the park with the local goat population, Mr Weir added: “I really and truly would like to see an expansion of the goat project because it is something that we need in Barbados … And I think that our farmers equally can benefit from coming here, …to get different species of animals to be able to expand what we have, or for the people who are into ornamentals, to be able to come here and get different varieties of plants.”
In his remarks, Paradise Nature Park owner, Mitchel Hird said: “More importantly, I think that it [Paradise Nature Park] allows us to see some new breeds of animals, especially some of the newer breeds of agricultural animals that have been brought into Barbados that have tremendous future potential for that kind of agricultural production, hybridising with local varieties, and optimising productivity of the farming sector.”
The park has a range of animals including miniature donkeys, green Iguanas, rabbits, pigs, Silky Chickens from China, snakes, parrots and Emus. The Paradise Nature Park will be open to the general public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and daily for schools and education groups.