About Us

An introduction by our co-founder Jamie

About us, our history and love for animals

“Michelle and I have been involved with keeping and rescuing exotic/domestic animals for a number of years.

My introduction to exotic animals was from being bought up with many parrots and parakeets. This was because my mother was a prominent breeder who helped pioneer the idea of captive breeding in the UK as opposed to catching birds in the wild.

My love however has always been for members of the reptile family. I had my first pet snake at the age of twelve. 30 years on that love of reptiles has never diminished. A number of years ago we started taking on unwanted or mistreated reptile pets, ranging from the common pet species familiar to most like bearded dragons and cornsnakes, to the more obscure and unsuitable species people sometimes try to keep such as crocodilians.

We shared our home not only with a diverse selection of reptiles and bugs but also a whole host of more furry residents. From traditional rabbits that Michelle specialises in rescuing, ferrets and guinea pigs. To the more unusual and exotic, such as our skunks, raccoons, meerkats, dwarf hedgehogs, chinchillas, skinny pigs and coatis to name a few

With the scale and scope of rescued animals increasing we decided to fulfil a lifelong dream and open up our own wildlife park. A park featuring a broad cross section of animals, from reptiles, to exotic and domestic mammals.

The dream to open ARK Wildlife Park was born.

The beginnings of the ARK

In the Spring of 2016 we came across the site of a closed down farm park that showed huge potential. So we then set ourselves the target of turning it around and opening to the public that year.

After months and months of renovation, with huge amounts of help from family, friends, volunteers from Stickney, the surrounding villages and local companies the park opened it’s gates late summer 2016. We want to extend a massive thanks to everyone involved.

We hope that through our wildlife park and sanctuary we can continue to offer permanent homes to animals in need. As well as help people to gain a better understanding of the creatures we share our world with. Hopefully dispel a few fears along the way. As well as help educate the public to the growing issues within the exotic pet trade.”

About us at ARK Wildlife Park

Now ARK Wildlife Park is a Lincolnshire zoo with a difference.

Operating as a rescue sanctuary for exotic animals that is also open to the public like a traditional family friendly zoo with wonderful indoor and outdoor play areas.

We are twice winners of the BBC Make a Difference award in the animal welfare category. The vast majority of our residents are rescues from the European pet trade. ARK Wildlife Park has become a home to a wide variety of captivating animals. From exotic mammals and fearsome carnivores to stunning reptiles and some of your favourite farmyard friends.

Our doors are open all year round except January (see visitor info for seasonal opening times).

As well as the wonderful outside areas, visitors also benefit from popular indoor attractions such as

• the Tropical House
• Trash Panda Towers soft play area
• Meerkat and Familiar Friends Barn
• All weather Play area/Dino Racers
• Escape Room (Book in advance, please see experiences page for details)

Explore Jurassic Ark-Dinosaur land, Lincolnshire’s largest dinosaur attraction.

Come face to face with beautiful and seldom-seen carnivores, including the most species of wildcats in Lincolnshire. Walk around Lemur Lake, Lincolnshire’s first and only primate island and home to our group of rescued ring-tailed lemurs. Then meet our groups of Rhesus & Barbary Macaques at Macaque Manor. Take a peek into the twilight world of the kinkajou at Lincolnshire’s only nocturnal house-Kinkajou Cavern.

There is also a large outdoor play park for children, and the family-friendly Kalahari Cafe, offering a delicious selection of locally made cakes, savouries and other refreshments. In Summer enjoy a freshly cooked stone-baked pizza at Dino Bites pizza outlet (peak times only).

Updates to ARK Wildlife Park

New for 2024

Jurassic Encounters, Meet and interact with our adult velociraptor – open peak times, see Facebook for current events

New for 2023

• Kinkajou Cavern, Lincolnshire’s only Nocturnal house
• Caracal Glade, One of Africa’s most beautiful wildcats

New for 2022

• Jurassic Ark, Dinosaur land – open all year
• Dino Racers, battery-powered children’s quad bikes
• Indoor soft play area, “Trash Panda Towers”, suitable for 9 yrs & under, toddler area for under 5’s
• Stamp trail, collect the stamps for a Free enamel dinosaur pin badge (children 3-15 yrs.)

About us-Your visit to ARK Wildlife Park

We want our visitors to have a fantastic and enjoyable time, whilst never forgetting our primary objective, the rescue and rehabilitation of animals from the exotic pet trade, ex laboratory animals etc.  Therefore we never lock our animals into viewing areas, it will be their choice to come out and we offer them plenty of cover. This ensures they are not stressed out, so bear with them and if you don’t see them the first time round, pop back around to see if they are out or ask a keeper for the best time to spot them.

With themed events planned throughout the year, ARK Wildlife Park is a must-visit Lincolnshire zoo for a truly wild family time, your support will continue to fund the Ark’s ongoing mission to rescue animals and raise awareness of wildlife trafficking and the exotic pet trade.