The cost of running Dudley Zoo last year was £2.4 million, latest figures revealed today.

The annual accounts show the attraction would have failed to break even without £250,000 in grants from Dudley Council and the Government. But zoo bosses say the figure for 2007-08 is a “significant” improvement on the previous year. Its total income was £2,601,133 including £1,583,524 from admission fees and gifts.

Donations and gifts have halved over the past three financial years according to the figures which show a drop from £60,000 to £30,981.

Zoo chief executive Peter Suddock was unavailable for comment but the difference in the figures for donations could be to do with an greater emphasis on gift aid through tax via admission fees, according to chairman of the zoo board David Sparks.

The Castle Hill site spent £1,733,568 on animal welfare, education and conservation, including £155,632 spent on marketing and publicity.

The report says seven decades after opening it is regularly contacted by local, national and overseas press on a host of topics on the theme of the the latest animal antics.

Publication of the accounts come amid uncertainty about a £10 million redevelopment of the zoo.

The company St Modwen has stalled on starting the scheme which also featires a hotel, garden centre and hosuing for Castle Hill.

Despite the uncertainty the zoo has also announced plans for a new £750,000 chimps home.

Zoo bosses are also spending £150,000 building a new big cat enclosure on the upper level by Lemur Wood for its Asiatic Lions, which hail from Northern India.

It can house between four and six of the animals and will include a viewing platform.

The annual report highlights how the zoo’s role has changed with today’s focus on conservation. The zoo recorded a record number of people “adopting” or sponsoring animals last year.