The businessman and zookeeper told BBC Radio Sheffield: “I always think things happen for a reason. In the eye of the storm you always think it’s the worst time.
“But it has worked out for us, it’s a much better site, there is much bigger footfall.”
Mr Jonas, who ran the park in Ringinglow, with his wife Keeley, said the couple had already looked at rehoming the animals and explored alternative jobs when Gulliver’s approached them.
Now within a two-week window, they have had to relocate 170 animals including alpacas, exotic birds, meerkats, reindeer, skunks and porcupines.
The latter, he said, very much showed their displeasure at being moved.
“You always think moving is easier than it is and that’s just with furniture, but add in 170 animals and that is quite a feat in itself,” he said.
“It’s taken a lot of team effort and a lot of volunteers to help us get them across there.”
The new attraction at the Gulliver’s Valley resort will officially open as Valley Wildlife from 10 September every Tuesday to Thursday.
In the future, the couple hope to open a separate zoo on the same site with its own entrance.
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