ABOUT US

DZC is unique… a home to more than 1300 animals, and has nigh on 200 species, including some of the rarest creatures on Planet Earth.

DZC is much more than a zoo

Hundreds of exotic and endangered animals inhabit an ancient wooded hillside, with a rich geological history, around the ruins of the 11th century Dudley Castle and share a site with the world’s largest single collection of Modernist Tecton structures – and the country’s only vintage chairlift!

Education and Conservation

Our aim is to provide our visitors, via our education and conservation activities, with an understanding and awareness of all elements of this unique site, the history of the castle and the geology, the importance of the architectural design of the Tectons, and the opportunity to get closer to the world’s rarest animals.

History

The zoo which opened in May 1937, covers an area of approximately 40 acres. This unique site includes two scheduled monuments – an 11th century castle and limestone caverns – and 12 Grade 2 listed Tecton buildings (four Grade 2*).

The idea to convert Dudley Castle's grounds into zoological gardens came from its then owner, the third Earl of Dudley, who chose a team of Modernist architects to design the zoo. Using reinforced concrete they created a revolutionary new design of building: Tectons.

The structures have stood the test of time and eight decades on Dudley Zoo has the world's largest single collection of Tectons, which in 2009 received World Monument Status.

Today the Tectons are boosted by a variety of animal housing, paddocks and enclosures which are home to our wide variety of 200 species.

Much of the animal collection is linked to international conservation and breeding programmes and several of our global projects have received awards. Endangered species include Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers, Bornean orang utans, Tibetan red pandas, Rothschild giraffes, Madagascan lemurs and Humboldt penguins – DZC has the UK's largest parent-reared colony.