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Dudley Zoo keepers join in social media dance

Staff at Dudley Zoo have become the latest to join in with a social media dance craze.

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Staff at the zoo have been keeping busy online to entertain supporters

The staff, who are all keepers for different animals at the zoo, were taking part in the Blinding Lights challenge, which takes place on social media tool TikTok.

It involves a dance routine to The Weeknd’s recent single "Blinding Lights", an energetic song which has been described as the perfect soundtrack for a dance craze.

Videos have gone out from around the world of people doing the six-step dance, with the challenge to Dudley Zoo coming from Folly Farm in South Wales.

Jodie Dryden was the leader of the effort by the keepers, which observed social distancing and took place in the courtyard in front of Dudley Castle.

The 29-year-old section leader for Primates said it was a team effort to do the video and hope it would bring a smile to people's faces.

She said: "It's all about making people smile and watching it all over again and if it brings a smile to someone's face, then that's brilliant.

"It's nice because you can see a castle in the background, which is very unique anyway, and it was just nice to have a video that was a bit more upbeat."

Jodie said it had taken 32 attempts to get the dance routine completed successfully, but had been worth the effort to spend time with colleagues she doesn't see due to social distancing.

She also said she hoped to see the public back in the zoo soon and had a message for the supporters of the zoo.

She said: "Sit tight, stay at home and, hopefully, when we're all out and about, you can come and visit us.

"We enjoy people coming to the zoo to watch our hard work and watch the animals live, so it would be nice for visitors to come back on site, obviously.

"But we want them stay at home for now and keep watching our videos and get involved as well."

The zoo has started a Just Giving page to help fund the feed and looking after of the animals during the lock down.

To find out and more and to donate, go to justgiving.com/campaign/DZCanimalcarefund

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