DUDLEY Zoo will be joining the Olympics fun on Thursday with its very own sports extravaganza.

The Zoolympics will see staff go head-to-head in a variety of zookeeper inspired games in the castle courtyard, with the losers being put in the stocks to face a flurry of wet sponges.

There will also be the chance for visitors to join in the fun with animal-themed competitions running throughout the day, including gibbon dancing (hula hooping), flamingo falls (balancing on one leg), monkey madness (knock down the cuddly toy) and the penguin waddle (egg and spoon race).

Conservation officer, Chris Leeson, said: “Come and watch as our keepers, customer services and office staff compete in wheelbarrow races, straw bale stacking, tug of war and guess the animal poo games and help us punish the losers by purchasing sponges and buckets of water and giving them a good soaking.”

Cash raised will be donated to the World Land Trust’s Atlantic Forest appeal.

The charity is working to raise £40,000 to buy a part of the remaining seven per cent of Atlantic Forest in Brazil, which is home to many endangered plants and animals including puma, sloth and woolly spider monkey. This land will form the Olympic Forest Reserve and will be a protected habitat for the different species to survive and increase their numbers.

Chris added: "Conservation work is key to Dudley Zoo’s ethos and we’re proud to be involved in this campaign.

“We hope visitors will come and support us and help us raise funds for such an important appeal, as well as joining in the fun and games and cheering on our staff.”