Always on
This project successfully funded on 12th February 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Surgery for Walter the Baby Skunk's broken leg
Crewe, Cheshire East, United Kingdom
First target reached!
A few days after Walter’s initial operation, despite the amazing care he was receivi...
Aim
Help baby skunk Walter get the leg surgery he needs to walk, play, and live a happy life at Holmes Chapel Zoo. 💛🦨
🦨 Help Walter the Baby Skunk Get Back on His Feet
Every zoo has its little stars — those animals that instantly capture hearts and become part of the family. For Holmes Chapel Zoo, that little star is Walter, our cheeky, playful baby skunk.
Walter joined us in September, becoming the newest member of our growing skunk family alongside Willow and Watson. From the moment he arrived, he charmed everyone he met — curious, gentle, and full of mischief. Despite being small, Walter has a huge personality. He loves snuggling into the keepers’ arms, exploring new smells, and showing off his playful side.
BABY WALTER
🐾 A Bright Start
Like all our new arrivals, Walter began his time with us in quarantine — a standard and important step to make sure every animal is healthy and ready to meet their new friends. Even during this time, he was eager to interact, always coming up to the front of his enclosure for a cuddle or a snack. The keepers quickly fell in love with his trusting, affectionate nature.
Once his quarantine period ended, Walter began to meet his new companions, Willow and Watson. These gentle introductions were going wonderfully. Walter was thriving — confident, happy, and curious about the world around him. He loved his toys, his food (especially mealworms and eggs!), and all the fuss he could get.
WILLOW & WATSON
💔 A Sudden Accident
But then, tragedy struck.
One playful moment ended in disaster when Walter took an unfortunate tumble and fractured his leg. It was a heartbreaking day for everyone here. Our keepers acted quickly, and the vet confirmed what we feared — the break was serious and would require an operation to insert a small plate to help the bone heal properly.
The good news is that Walter is strong, young, and full of life. With the operation and proper care, he has every chance of making a full recovery. The bad news is that, as a brand-new zoo that only opened its doors in May this year, we don’t yet have a financial reserve for such unexpected medical emergencies.
WALTER WITH HIS LEG IN A CAST
🏥 Why We Need Your Help
Veterinary care for exotic animals is highly specialised — and costly. The surgery, x-rays, anaesthetic, aftercare, and post-op medication all add up quickly. We never compromise on the care of our animals, but this is a large, unplanned expense that we simply can’t meet alone.
That’s why we’re reaching out to our community — to animal lovers, families, and supporters who believe in what we’re doing here at Holmes Chapel Zoo.
Your donation, no matter how small, will help us:
Cover the cost of Walter’s surgery and pain relief medication.
Provide follow-up care and physiotherapy to help him recover safely.
Ensure that Walter can get back to his happy, playful self as soon as possible.
Every penny raised goes directly towards Walter’s treatment and wellbeing.
🌟 Why Walter Matters
Walter isn’t just a skunk — he’s a future ambassador for conservation, kindness, and education. Once fully recovered, Walter will play a vital role at Holmes Chapel Zoo and also in our Zoo2U outreach programme, where he’ll help children and adults of all ages learn about wildlife, respect for nature, and the importance of protecting animals.
Through our outreach visits to schools, youth groups, care homes, and community events, Walter will be helping people overcome fears, learn about skunks’ real nature (spoiler: they’re gentle, intelligent, and affectionate!), and build empathy for all animals — even the misunderstood ones.
He’s already been practicing for his role — confident with new people, curious about every sound and scent, and always keen to be involved. Walter’s future is bright, and with your help, we can make sure he gets the chance to live it to the fullest.
WALTER RESTING HIS LEG
💕 The Holmes Chapel Zoo Story
Holmes Chapel Zoo is still in its infancy — we officially opened in May 2025. We’re a small, family-run zoo with a big heart and a clear mission: to engage, educate, and inspire visitors about animals and conservation.
From meerkats to wallabies, parrots to tortoises, every animal here plays a part in teaching visitors of all ages about wildlife and care for the natural world. We pride ourselves on offering close, personal experiences that leave lasting impressions.
But like many new ventures, the early months are financially fragile. Our focus has been on building habitats, caring for our growing animal family, and creating the best visitor experiences possible. A large, unexpected vet bill like this is a real challenge — one we hope our community can help us overcome.
🦨 Walter’s Recovery
Right now, Walter is being monitored closely by our veterinary team. He’s still bright and alert, and he’s taking everything in his stride — a testament to his brave little spirit. The operation will involve inserting a small metal plate to stabilise his leg and allow the bone to heal correctly. With proper recovery time, he should regain full use of his leg and return to his usual cheeky self.
He’ll need a quiet, warm space to rest, daily medication, and gentle physiotherapy from our keepers as he heals. If you’ve ever seen a skunk toddling around, you’ll know how full of character they are — and we can’t wait to see Walter back to his old tricks soon.
💖 How You Can Help
We’ve set up this fundraising appeal to cover Walter’s operation and aftercare costs. Every donation, no matter how small, truly makes a difference. Here’s how your support can help:
£5 helps provide post-op pain relief and daily care items.
£10 helps pay for bandage changes and check-ups.
£25 helps cover specialist vet care and physiotherapy.
£50 or more goes directly toward the cost of the operation itself.
If you can’t donate right now, please consider sharing Walter’s story. The more people who know about him, the faster we can reach our goal and get him back on his feet.
🫶 Thank You
It’s not easy to ask for help — but we know that together, our community can make a huge difference. Every message, share, and donation means the world to us.
Walter has already brought so much joy and laughter to our zoo family. We can’t wait for the day he’s fully healed and back out meeting visitors, spreading smiles, and showing off his little wagging tail again.
From all of us at Holmes Chapel Zoo — and especially from Walter — thank you for your kindness, compassion, and support.
Let’s get our baby skunk back to doing what he loves most: making people smile. 🦨💛
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made