29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Welsh Mountain Zoo opens biggest new attraction in years as it recovers from cyber attack
A tropical forest has been recreated for what the Welsh Mountain Zoo is billing as its 'most ambitious development since 2021". It comes as the popular attraction recovers from a major cyber attack that shut down its Facebook page for six weeks.
'Papillo Forest' provides an immersive indoor habitat showcasing the incredible diversity of tropical butterflies.
The Colwyn Bay zoo spent six months transforming a disused building into 'Papillo Forest', an immersive indoor habitat showcasing the diversity of tropical butterflies. Zoo chiefs say it is the first in a series of new developments being planned.
Last month the zoo issued an apology for the 'recent disruption' to its Facebook page. In late May, a hacker took control of the site and published posts promoting an 'organic product'.
The attack was reported to Facebook and the Action Fraud department, which reports to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. Other systems, including membership data and personal information, remained 'safe and secure', said the zoo.
In a statement, it said: ' North Wales Police Cyber Crime Unit has conducted a full review of our systems and confirmed they are safe and secure.
'While the original hacker's name may still appear in the background, they can no longer access or control the account thanks to prompt action taken on our side. We are continuing to work closely with Facebook to complete their investigation and ensure everything is fully restored.'
The unhappy episode was the prelude to the formal launch of Papillo Forest – named after the Latin word for 'butterfly'. It's divided into three spaces.
The first is a lush environment filled with different butterflies in which visitors can witness the insects' transformation from egg to caterpillar, pupa and adult.
The journey continues into the reptile house - home to the likes of snakes, chameleons and tarantulas. Phase three remains under construction and will become the new lemur enclosure, replicating a Madagascan landscape.
Zoo CEO Chris Mitchell said Papillo Forest was now ready to welcome visitors. 'It's been an exciting development on many levels and brings something very different to the zoo, having been lovingly crafted by our incredibly skilled in-house team.
'The world of butterflies is a fascinating one and Papillo Forest will help visitors own a cleaner understanding of their critical roles in pollination and ecosystems, as well as the environmental challenges they face due to climate change and habitat loss.'
For the new attraction, reclaimed materials such as fallen trees were put to good use. Ultimately, it will focus on butterfly conservation.
The butterfly house underwent a soft opening earlier this year and the attraction will 'continue to evolve', said the zoo. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Mr Mitchell added: 'The zoo is set to embark on an ambitious development programme this year, and the coming years, all of which will be designed to both enhance visitor experience and share vital conservation messages and learning.'
