Welsh bungalow for sale - with incredible extra thrown in

Rural location: check. Sea views: check. Pair of African lions... check.

House-hunters with a taste for the exotic may find their perfect property in Borth, near Aberystwyth in Wales. For just £600,000, they can buy a two-bedroom detached bungalow with 12 acres of land - containing a zoo with 300 animals.

The Animalarium was simply a rare breeds farm when Jean and Alan Mumbray first moved in 15 years ago. But they already had a few monkeys, wallabies, crocodiles and snakes as pets - and things just snowballed from there.

The zoo now boasts a lynx, a leopard, an ocelot and a pair of lions as well as crocodiles, turtles and exotic birds. Many of the animals were surplus to requirements at other zoos, and the Mumbrays have also had some success with the captive breeding of endangered species.

But now Jean, 76, and 56-year-old Alan are ready to retire and are looking for somewhere closer to family - creating an opportunity for would-be zookeepers.

"Anyone interested in the sale need to have some experience of keeping exotic animals, but not necessarily from a zoo background as the staff are all experienced," Jean tells Wales Online.

"I would expect them to have at least some interest or experience and to research what running a zoo actually entails."

The new owners will need to renew the existing zoo licence through the local council.
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At the moment, Jean handles paperwork and overall management, while Alan deals with maintenance, gives a daily reptile demonstration and supervises pony rides in summer.

"The practical problems are a cross between running a boarding school and a prison," she says.

But there will be help on call for the new buyers, with staff responsible for most of the animals' day-to-day care.

Along with eight acres of animal enclosures, there is also a cafeteria, visitor centre and gift shop, children's play areas and large car park.

The zoo currently pulls in around 24,000 visitors a year - twice as many as ten years ago. And with some of the land still unused, it has huge potential for expansion, say agents Morris Marshall & Poole.

"This is a very unique opportunity for someone with an interest and knowledge of zoos or animals to take the business forward and develop what is already a significant visitor attraction in Mid Wales, as well as a home for a variety of exotic zoo animals," says partner Michael Williams.