Twenty-five years ago this month, Penscynor Wildlife Park near Neath closed its gates for the final time, ending 27 years of operation. The park, which opened in 1968, had become a popular attraction in South Wales.
The site made headlines in 1992 when three male chimpanzees escaped and headed towards a nearby village school. The incident caused widespread panic and led to a major operation to recapture the animals.
Zoo education officer Howie Watkins, who later gained fame as a presenter on BBC's The Really Wild Show, described the escape as 'an awful and traumatic experience for anyone who was close to it.' He added, 'It's something many of us have never got over.'
Since its closure, the park has fallen into disrepair, with overgrown enclosures and decaying buildings now marking the site. Despite occasional calls for redevelopment, the land remains abandoned, serving as a poignant reminder of its past.
