New animal arrival!

There’s a new animal arrival on site, although this one won’t need our keepers to feed or water it!

We’re delighted to have secured our colourful sponsored bear from The Big Sleuth while helping raise funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which has taken up residence opposite the Bear Ravine, outside Lorikeet Lookout.

The full-sized sun bear statue, entitled Enlightenment, which spent the summer in Birmingham’s Oozells Square in Brindleyplace as part of the free public art trail, features birds, bees, flora, fauna and a large beaming sun and was designed by Essex-based artist, Valerie Osment.

We were thrilled with Valerie’s vibrant artwork, which we felt tied in perfectly with our on-site native species conservation work and were all saddened to learn she had passed away before the project’s end.

DZG Marketing Manager, Andrea Hales, said: “We were keen to be involved in supporting the work of Birmingham Children’s Hospital through The Big Sleuth and delighted that our extra special bear, which we’ve nicknamed Sunny Dudley, can make DZG its permanent home allowing Valerie’s work to be seen by thousands of our visitors every year.”

Pictured above: DZG Conservation Officer Chris Leeson, Marketing Assistant Louise Curtis and Marketing Manager Andrea Hales take delivery of our new bear!