Staff at Dudley Zoological Gardens are looking to spread the love over half term as they celebrate Love Your Zoo Week.

Throughout the school holidays the Castle Hill zoo will be running themed activities to help spread the message about its conservation, education and research work with some of the rarest animals in the world – including Chico the tapir, who started celebrations early by tucking into a piece of heart-shaped watermelon – one of his favourite treats!

DZG Marketing Manager Andrea Hales said: “We’re looking forward to our annual Love Your Zoo Week and we’ve got lots of activities for all the family to enjoy during half term.”

As well as a packed programme of daily animal talks and feeds, young visitors can also hunt out hearts from around the 40-acre site for the chance to win an adoption of the animal they love most at the zoo and there’ll also be colouring fun in the Farm Barn.

Plus, visitors will be invited to write why they love DZG on heart-shaped notes which will go on display on a wooden Dudley Castle display board in the Discovery Centre.

Love Your Zoo Week, which starts on Saturday (May 25) and runs until Sunday, June 2, is run by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) to encourage people to visit their local BIAZA attraction.