Staff at Dudley Zoo are celebrating their best February half term visitor numbers on record, with a staggering 15,600 people flocking to visit.

Bosses were delighted with the bumper attendance which they attributed to the pleasant dry weather, recently developed enclosures and new species.

Through last week, Monday to Sunday, a total of 15,612 visitors came through the gates of the 40-acre site – more than double the number they had last February half term when 6,528 people made the trip. Zoo Director Derek Grove said:

“This has been the best February half term I can remember, it’s been incredible. Some of our daily figures during the week were comparable to a good day in August, which is amazing. People definitely made the most of the dry weather and enjoyed seeing our new animals and the improvements we have made.

“Throughout this January and February combined we had more than 30,000 visitors. The total was 30,605 – that’s 78 per cent up on last year when the first two months brought in 17,194 people.”

Mr Grove said the naked mole rats, a brand new species to the zoo, were proving a very popular addition and visitors also enjoyed seeing new extensions to both the snow leopard and capuchin enclosures.