Zoo welcomes recognition for its animal care

A family-run zoo has been recognised for the high standard of care for its animals.

Wild Zoological Park near Wombourne, south Staffordshire, said the official accreditation by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) was testament to the "commitment and passion" from its staff.

Speaking about receiving the accreditation, Caroline Gautier from the zoo team said it had taken more than a year to achieve.

"The process has taken over a year and has been rigorous, exacting and detailed as it is really designed to be an in-depth and comprehensive evaluation of what a proper 'good' zoo has to be and that best practices are demonstrated and not just claimed," she said.

She thanked her colleagues, particularly head keeper Alice Spark and the school education programme, led by Ben Halsall and Georgia Hollinshead.

"Their commitment and passion are at the heart of everything we do along with every single member of our Wild family which includes our deputy head keepers, zoo keepers, front of house team and our special events team," she said.

Earlier this year, the zoo, which has has grown to more than five times its original size since it opened in 2016, said it had to find larger site or risked closing.

The team is looking for a base in either Shropshire, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley or Birmingham, although remaining in south Staffordshire is preferred, but said on Tuesday it was still yet to find somewhere.

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