‘Big Disappointment’ As Wildlife Cameras Are Stolen From Ty Mawr Country Park

A project looking for wildlife in country parks across Wrexham was dealt a blow this weekend when it emerged that three specialist cameras had been stolen.

The special ‘camera traps’, designed to picture wildlife 24 hours a day, were taken from Ty Mawr Country Park despite being locked in steel security cases.

The iWild North Wales project, run by local non-profit social enterprise NatureSpy and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has been capturing some of the Welsh wildlife around North East Wales’ community parks and nature reserves.

Director James McConnell said “We’re very disappointed. This project is designed to give local communities the chance to see the wildlife that they share their parks with. Unfortunately it just takes one or two thieves to spoil that for everybody.”

An appeal has already been launched on the Ty Mawr Country Park Facebook page and at time of writing the appeal has been shared 295 times. The theft has been described as a ‘big disappointment to the park’.

Comments posted by Ty Mawr Country Park on their Facebook page state: “We are appealing to anyone who may have noticed when the capture wildlife cameras were stolen from Ty Mawr. They weren’t there when they went to collect them to look through the data they had collected.

“Someone has stolen three cameras which is a big disappointment for the park because it was a chance to see its wildlife going about it’s normal day. If you know of anyone trying to sell cameras , please can you let Ty Mawr rangers know on 01978 822780.

“The police have been notified. Thank you, this is very sad for us because they may not want to do here again and would have been brilliant for everyone to see wildlife on their doorstep.”

Details on where the cameras had been located in the country park have also been posted online, with two cameras along the riverside path and one near the main path by the viaduct.

The stolen camera traps are made by Bushnell and are brown in colour. Anyone with information should contact North Wales Police quoting crime reference number RC15094567.