Revamp brings Dudley Zoo animals closer

An £80,000 revamp has transformed the orangutan house at Dudley Zoo, quadrupling its size and creating a viewing area to bring visitors closer to the animals.

Originally, bosses hoped to spend £1.5million on the scheme, which would have featured a dome-shaped roof.

These plans were part of a £10m transformation of the zoo which is in limbo after funding from Advantage West Midlands was suspended.

Bosses remained committed to the upgrade and, following an eight-month project, have replaced the roof of the 1950s building and improved the internal quarters.

Five dens - three of them private - have been created for the apes, Azimat, aged 42, Benji, 30, Jazz, 18, and Jurong, 15, featuring ropes, rocks and a climbing frame.

Bosses say that top of visitors' requests is a wish to get closer to the animals, so two viewing areas have been created with only a pane of glass separating the public from the apes.

Chief executive Peter Suddock said: "The work has provided a much-improved facility.

"We needed to replace the roof of the house, as it was in a poor state, so took the opportunity to make the internal quarters much larger.

"The work was part of a programme to improve accommodation for the orangutans, and we hope to modify the outdoor areas in the near future."

The project was funded by a £75,000 legacy from long-term zoo supporters the late Margaret and Alan Leafe from Sheffield, plus a further donation from the Zoo's Development Trust.

Mr Suddock added: "Throughout the building programme, a decision was made to keep the orangs within the original housing, which the animals found immensely amusing as they shared their home with builders, albeit separated by glass."

The project was designed in-house and led by senior curator Derek Grove, and all contractors and materials used were local.