Dudley Zoo hopeful over return of bears for first time in 40 years

Zoo chiefs hope councillors will approve a £250,000 scheme which will help bring back the animals, last homed on the site in 1980.

The major tourist attraction has lodged an application for planning permission to upgrade its existing ravine enclosure, paving the way for the European mammals to once more wow visitors

The animals return comes after visitors were each given a token to vote for one of three proposed improvements to the enclosures.

Dudley Zoo and Castle wants to build a new perimeter fence and a single storey hut.

But the scheme also requires special approval because of the enclosure’s Grade II listed status.

Built in the 1930s, the Bear Ravine was designed by Berthold Lubetkin whose iconic modernist designs also included the gorilla house and a penguin pool in London Zoo

He designed 12 buildings for Dudley, all of which have protected status and make up the single biggest collection of the architect’s work in the world.

If the plans are approved, it is hoped a breeding group of three or four animals will be transferred to Dudley from Bojnice in Slovakia.

Their return is expected to enhance the zoo’s reputation.

The planning application is expected to go before the council’s planning committee later this year.