Plans to bring bears back to Dudley Zoo dropped - in favour of reindeer attraction

Bosses had hoped to reinstate European brown bears in the old Grade II listed Lubetkin Bear Ravine, after a 40-year break, and pioneer a new family after a public vote.

But after a major £200,000 revamp of the paddock designed by Berthold Lubetkin in the 1930s, a decision was taken to move the zoo's reindeer herd into it instead.

Now known as Reindeer Ravine, it is home to the 12-strong herd including five calves which were born earlier this year - Koda, Flynn, Flora, Robin and Sven.

Zoo director Derek Grove says he is delighted with the new-look ravine after the pandemic resulted in a major rethink of the original scheme.

"Bringing back the bears was the original plan, but Covid changed a lot of things. This was the main driver along with financial considerations.