Griffon vulture with partial sight finds a new flock at Terra Natura Murcia
After losing sight in one eye, this rescued bird has found safety, companionship, and a second chance at life in the Murcia park
There’s a new arrival soaring into the hearts of visitors at Terra Natura Murcia - a griffon vulture who’s been given a new home after losing sight in one eye. The impressive bird came from the Santa Faz Wildlife Recovery Centre in Alicante, where an injury left it unable to survive in the wild.Now, it’s settling into its new surroundings at the park’s bird enclosure, where it will live with seven other griffon vultures. Before joining the group, the park’s veterinary team carried out a full health check to make sure the bird was fit, comfortable, and ready for its fresh start.
Terra Natura Murcia works closely with wildlife recovery centres across the region to care for animals like this one; creatures that, through no fault of their own, can’t return to their natural habitat. It’s a partnership that focuses not just on rescuing and caring for animals, but also on teaching visitors about the importance of conservation and kindness toward native species.
Park director Gustavo Martínez said, “These kinds of collaborations are essential to giving some animals a second chance at life. At Terra Natura Murcia, we work to ensure these animals live in the best possible conditions. Furthermore, these initiatives help raise awareness among our visitors about the importance of conserving native wildlife and the work carried out by wildlife rehabilitation centres.”
Joining in the release was the Councilor for Urban Development and Smart City, José Guillén, who praised the park’s dedication. “Working together allows us to offer a second chance to animals that cannot return to their natural environment and, at the same time, brings the people of Murcia closer to the importance of protecting the environment and caring for the wildlife that is part of our natural heritage,” he said.
For this resilient griffon vulture, life has taken a gentle turn for the better. Now safe among its own kind and surrounded by care, it stands as a beautiful reminder that a helping hand, and a little compassion, can make all the difference.
Tickets can be purchased online in advance on the Terra Natura website, or at the ticket office on the day of your visit.
Click here for more information about Terra Natura Murcia
Image: Terra Natura
Address
C/Regidor Cayetano Gago S/N 30100 Espinardo Murcia ESPANA Tel: (+34)968 368 200
Terra Natura Murcia, wildlife and adventure water park in the outskirts of the city of Murcia
Terra Natura Murcia is one of the most important and spectacular animal and nature parks in western Spain, and is one of a new generation of wildlife parks in which visitors can discover the concept of what's called "Zooinmersión."
The aim of this is recreate a habitat which gives an experience of being at one with the wildlife viewed in the park, so to this end more than 500 examples of 50 species of vegetation have been interplanted among the animal habitats, spread across an area occupying more than 165,000 square metres.
The planting has matured to create a comfortable and interesting environment which enhances the interaction between visitors and animals.
The planting not only softens the landscape, but also enables visitors to be closer to the animals and have direct human contact rather than the traditional forms of wildlife park where the animals are at a distance behind physical barriers.
The park contains over 500 animals belonging to 50 different species (some of which are in grave danger of extinction), alongside giraffes, lions, hippopotamus, lemurs, brown bears, Iberian lynx, Oryx, Iberian wolves and a White African Rhinoceros.
Throughout the year, Terra Natura Murcia offers different educational talks during visits to their facilities: giraffes, brown bears and otters.
One of the most popular areas is the falconry zone, where the displays enable visitors to discover the beauty of a great variety of birds such as the majestic flight of the peregrine falcon, which reaches diving speeds of over 300 km an hour, the eagle owl, various types of hawk, the griffon vulture and the buzzard eagle. One of the main aims of the park is to encourage contact and engage in interaction between animals and humans, and the falconry is a popular means of achieving this goal.
Among the mammals are Iberian and European Lynx, Mouflon and Coatis.
Aqua Natura Water park
During the summer Terra Natura opens Aqua Natura, the only water park in the Region of Murcia.
This is a refreshing and enjoyable way to cool down in the heat of summer, with swimming pools for adults and children, slides and shoots, kamikazes, lazy river, entertainment and games for youngsters, all within just a short distance of the centre of the city of Murcia.
Opening hours 2024
Terra Natura Murcia is open every day of the year except 1st January and 25th December.
The wildlife park opens at 10.00 in the morning, and during the summer (June 23rd to September 8th) it opens at 11.00.
The water park opens from May 25th to September 8th, at 11.00
Closing times are as follows:
January 2nd – March 15th: 17.00, except weekends in February and March (18.00).
March 16th – May 24th: 18.00, except weekends in April and May (19.00).
May 25th – June 16th: 19.00.
June 17th – September 8th: 20.00.
NB: During the summer special nocturnal tours and meals are available. See what's on section for latest promotions.
September 9th – September 15th: 19.00.
September 16th – October 25th: 18.00, except weekends in September and October (19.00).
October 28th – December 31st: 17.00, except weekends in November (18.00).
Details of daily activities can be found here: extra activities and special offers are regularly updated on Murcia Today.
Click here for online bookings
How to get there
Terra Natura is located in the northern outskirts of the city of Murcia in Espinardo, accessed via the A-7 motorway.
Address: Calle Regidor Cayetano Gago, 30100, Espinardo, Murcia
From the A-7 Murcia to Alicante, exit 136, Universidad de Murcia
From the Autovia A-7 Alicante to Murcia, exit 762b, Murcia centro
By Bus
From central Murcia. Bus line number 31 leaves from Plaza Cruz Roja via Gran Via and passes by the park, from Monday to Saturday every half hour and on Sunday every hour.
Line 39A, leaves from the railway station from Monday to Friday every 15 minutes
Line 39C leaves from Infante Juan Manuel (Pio Baroja) from Monday to Friday every 30 minutes.
