£5k raised in Dudley Zoo walk
More than £5,000 was raised at a fundraising walk for Dudley Zoo, which was left reeling by the recent death of a snow leopard and her cub.
Around 300 fundraisers donned spots and stripes of their own to help with the snow leopard appeal by taking part in a onesie walk around the 40-acre site.
The day was a huge success, with all generations taking part in eye-catching outfits, and together helping to raise an impressive £5,500.
After giving birth to male cub Milo on June 6, the zoo's seven-year-old snow leopard Nanga died from complications during labour.
Although born healthy, Milo passed away as well just four weeks later, once again devastating both staff and visitors.
In June last year, two-year-old snow leopard Makalu left the zoo for his new home at Darjeeling Zoo, in India, almost 5,000 miles away, as part of a global breeding programme.
Yet the zoo has big plans to re-establish another snow leopard breeding pair in Dudley, by finding a new mate for six-year-old male Margaash.
The money raised from the onesie walk will go towards extending the zoo's snow leopard enclosure, complete with a new viewing area and platform for the endangered big cats. Construction is due to begin later this year.
Dudley Zoological Gardens' Marketing Manager, Andrea Hales, said: "It's the third time we've held the Onesie Walk and it was our best yet, so thank you to everyone who took part.
"We're so grateful for all the money raised, with every penny going straight back into the conservation work with snow leopards here at the zoo.
"We're hoping to bring in a female to join Margaash in the near future to re-establish a new breeding pair, so we're still ploughing ahead with our plans, despite the recent move of Makalu to Darjeeling Zoo and the sad losses of Nanga and Milo, and building work is expected to begin during the winter season."
