First glimpse of Dudley Zoo walk-through penguin enclosure

An eye-catching image showing for the first time how Dudley Zoo's popular penguin enclosure will look when a £40,000 revamp is complete has been unveiled.

Visitors to the Castle Hill site will be able to get closer than ever before to its penguins with new paths and viewing areas.

Work is being carried out to turn the Humboldt penguin enclosure into a "walkthrough experience".

Penguin Bay will double the land area available to the 70-plus penguins – one of Europe's largest colonies of Humboldts – and allow visitors to get closer to the endangered birds.

Pathways and garden areas incorporated into the site have been replaced with sand and rocks, creating an authentic landscape for the penguins.

And decking areas and glass viewing platforms will provide up-close views of the pool. The new feature will be opened on May 6 – the date the zoo opened to the public in 1937 – as part of the attraction's 75th anniversary celebrations.

Designs for Penguin Bay were drawn up in response to requests from visitors about what they would like to see at the site. Chief executive Peter Suddock said: "For years customers have asked to get nearer to our colony of rare Humboldt penguins and the new layout means they will be able to do just that, plus have a fantastic overhead viewing platform to watch them swimming. It will give the birds more space and we will be using a rock and sand-based substrate to mimic their wild habitat."

The scheme, which has been designed in-house, has been funded by the zoo with a £3,000 donation from Darlaston firm Rubery Owen. Mr Suddock said: "We are very grateful for their donation."