Dudley Zoo and Castle is celebrating after scooping a gold and two silver honours in the prestigious British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquarium Awards, which celebrate excellence in the industry.

The zoo was awarded gold in the Diversity and Inclusion category for spearheading a campaign for allergy awareness following the installation of a number of food allergy signs around the zoo last summer, which has led to other attractions around the country following suit.

Meanwhile the £500K outdoor Bornean orangutan enclosure, which the zoo completed last year for its family of great apes, was honoured with silver in the exhibit category.

And its carnivore keeping team picked up a further silver certificate in the Behaviour and Welfare category for training two snow leopards to receive injections by hand. Zoo Director Derek Grove, said:

“These awards highlight how the innovative work of DZC staff directly impacts the lives of our animals and visitor experience and we are incredibly proud that their continued dedication and hard work has been recognised by our peers within the zoo community.”