Seven stork chicks hatch at Terra Natura Murcia
The park confirms the birth of seven wild white stork chicks, adding a new boost to its biodiversity role
Terra Natura Murcia has welcomed some very special new arrivals this spring, with seven wild white stork chicks hatching in its facilities. It is a lovely piece of news for anyone who enjoys seeing nature at work, and a clear reminder of the important role the park plays as a refuge for local wildlife.The storks have been choosing Terra Natura Murcia as a nesting place since 2012, when the first pairs began settling in the park. Since then, they have returned year after year to build their nests in the treetops, drawn by the calm surroundings, the wetlands and the natural habitat created there. In many ways, they have become regular summer visitors, only with a much more impressive view of the park than most of us ever get.
Now, with seven chicks hatched, the colony continues to grow. In the coming days, technicians from the local council and the Regional Ministry of the Environment will carry out banding, which allows the birds to be monitored as they grow. This helps experts study their movements, reproduction and behaviour, and provides useful information for conservation work in the future.
A healthy sign for the park
For visitors, the presence of white storks adds something very special to the experience of going to Terra Natura Murcia. They are graceful birds, easy to recognise and always a pleasure to spot overhead. More importantly, their continued return shows that the park offers the kind of environment wildlife can trust and use year after year.
That makes this news more than just a pleasant nature update. It is a sign that the biodiversity at Terra Natura Murcia is thriving, and that the park remains a place where animals are not only seen, but supported. For a zoo and nature park, that balance matters.
There is also something reassuring about a story like this. In a busy world, it is nice to hear about life taking root in a natural space, especially when that space is so close to home for local residents and visitors in Murcia.
You might also be interested in: Terra Natura Murcia open the door to a summer of fun and learning
More than a day out
Terra Natura Murcia has always aimed to be more than just a place to visit. It combines leisure, education and conservation, which makes it appealing for families, nature lovers and anyone who wants a day out with a bit more meaning behind it. The arrival of these seven stork chicks is a perfect example of that.
The birds will soon be banded and added to the ongoing scientific monitoring of the colony, but for now, they are simply a welcome sign of new life at the park. And for those who enjoy seeing wildlife in a setting where it is clearly valued, that is reason enough to take notice.
At Terra Natura Murcia, the storks are once again reminding everyone that nature has a way of quietly bringing good news when it is given the chance.
Click here for more information about Terra Natura Murcia
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.
