Staff are celebrating the announcement of a £4.5million investment into Castle Hill from West Midlands European Regional Development Fund. The five-year project will create a new access and shared arrival area for visitors to DZG, Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Canal Trust. A dedicated £1.2million for DZG will upgrade roads across the 40-acre site, … Continue reading Delight at £4.5m investment

Falling autumn leaves are providing seasonal fun for some of our exotic species. Babirusas love to root for tubers and bugs to eat, and enjoy turning the leaves to mulch. It gives them an opportunity to forage and so provides environmental enrichment, allowing them to express their natural instincts. Asiatic short-clawed otters are curious and playful … Continue reading Leaves lead to enrichment

Smethwick artist, John?Fairbrother, was so inspired by a visit to Lemur Wood that he set up his easel, painted his favourite small primate – and donated the artwork to DZG. John, who works in a photo processing lab at Asda’s Cape Hill branch, has enjoyed art since an early age, but took a break from his hobby when he … Continue reading John donates artwork

Dudley Castle provided a fairytale backdrop for panto star, Niki Evans, when she dropped in to say hello to staff. X-Factor singer, Niki, is set to play The Fairy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton and when she heard DZG will be sponsoring the December 9th dress rehearsal, she called … Continue reading Fairytale backdrop for panto star

Three giant toads have arrived just in time for Hallowe’en events. The smooth-sided toads (Bufo guttatus) – among the largest toads in the world – are settling in at the Discovery Centre and proving very popular with young visitors. The new arrivals have been named Porthos, Athos and Aramis. CAPTION: One of three newly-arrived giant … Continue reading Giant toads join Hallowe’en fun

SMALL primates enjoyed a veggie feast of parsnips, swede, sweetcorn and broccoli, thanks to kind-hearted supporter, Mrs Sue Pall of Streetly, near Birmingham. Mrs Pall phoned up to find out what they liked and brought along a tray of their favourite goodies. Thank you, Mrs Pall!

Ungulates keepers are collecting fallen leaves from ash and sycamore trees across the 40-acre site to use as winter feed for giraffes. The vegetation will be stored in airtight drums to make sure our three Rothschild giraffes – 12-year-old Kubwa and females Josie aged seven and Mia, three – remain well fed throughout the colder … Continue reading Winter food is a tall order

Staff are hoping Creepy Crawly Corner will appeal to lots of little monsters this week with a range of Hallowe’en half-term events. Throughout half-term there will be Hallowe’en themed talks and feeds ending with a Hocus Pocus evening on Monday, October 31 (6pm to 9pm). The event includes a disco, ghost walk and ghoulish games, plus … Continue reading Hallowe’en Hocus Pocus

Keepers are hoping to get the inside story on the behaviour of rare Rothschilds giraffes with the installation of CCTV cameras inside the animals’ overnight stalls. Four cameras will provide useful information on how 12 year old male Kubwa, and females Mia, aged seven, and Josie, three, behave at night. Curator Matt Lewis explained: “Hopefully, … Continue reading Inside story on giraffes

Stourbridge teenager, Elliot Riley, spent a week’s work placement at DZG shadowing staff across the site. He worked with keepers on various sections, including primates and ungulates, and also spent time in our busy Press & Publicity Department. Fifteen-year-old Elliot, a pupil at Edgecliff Schol, in Kinver, is a keen photographer and snapped up the … Continue reading Elliot’s in the frame