Express & Star

Dudley Zoo and Castle ready for reopening next month

Animals at Dudley Zoo and Castle are on the lookout for visitors – as the attraction gears up to reopen next month.

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One of Dudley Zoo and Castle's meerkats on the lookout for visitors ahead of their reopening on April 12

The Castle Hill-based attraction is set to reopen its doors once again from Monday, April 12, as part of the Government's roadmap out of lockdown.

Admission tickets are now on sale for the zoo, which has been closed since January. Since closing, the attraction has welcomed baby animals and new arrivals eager to meet visitors.

Zoo director, Derek Grove, said: “We are delighted to be able to welcome back members of the public on site in less than a fortnight.

“This is the third and longest lockdown we have endured in a year, which has again been incredibly costly for a charity such our ours.

“In the last 12 months we have lost around £800,000, so reopening can’t come soon enough as we have carried on as normal with our usual day-to-day care of our exotic animal collection.

“During the last few months it’s been really encouraging to receive lots of messages from visitors who are looking forward to returning and seeing all of our recent arrivals and development work across the site, so there will be lots of new things to see, including a Colombian black spider monkey, gelada, ring-tailed lemur, Bactrian camel and Barbary sheep.

“And we have worked hard to ensure visitors can return for a fun day out and all our previous safety measures, including pre-booked online tickets only, timed entry slots, reduced visitor numbers, a one-way system and hand sanitising stations around the 40-acre site remain in place ready and waiting to protect our staff, animals and public.”

For more information, or to book tickets, visit www.dudleyzoo.org.uk.

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