KEEPERS at Dudley Zoo have proved they are animal mad, as most care for as many animals at home as they do during their working day.

The keepers have always been prepared to go above and beyond the call of duty for the sake of the rare animals in their care, but few visitors realise that, after hanging up their uniforms at the end of the day, most of the staff then start work all over again ­ looking after the wide variety of creatures they keep as pets in their own homes.

Curator Matt Lewis, his keeper wife Lesley and their children Harry and Eliza, who live in one of the on-site zoo houses, have a dog, rabbits, guinea pigs, a snake, fish and African giant land snails among their collection.

They also regularly care for the dogs, rabbits, birds and guinea pigs of zoo colleagues, family and friends.

Lesley said: "It is hard work but we all love animals and it keeps you busy. I like looking after other people's pets too ­ I never want them to go back."

While primate keeper Kirsty Thornton shares her zoo flat with five rabbits, two chipmunks, two chinchillas, four rats, a hamster and an axolotl - a type of salamander.

She often takes her Angora rabbit Bonito out and about and recently took him to the Dudley Christmas lights switch-on, where he proved a hit with younger members of the crowd.

Kirsty said: "Most of the animals I've got have been given to me by people who don¹t want them or can't look after them any more.

"My family don't live locally so the animals keep me company , they are my babies."

And Head of reptiles Graham Chilton keeps tropical fish at his Netherton home and even took on the Lewis family's pet parrot Oliver six years ago.

He said: "I haven¹t got time for a dog, but the fish are very relaxing and Oliver is an ideal companion.

"He's picked up quite a lot of words ­ first thing in the morning and when I come home at night he welcomes me with 'hello mate'.

He added: "I'm a firm believer that you've got to have animals in your life, and I'm lucky that I've got them at work and at home."

While trainee keeper Sam Grove, has grown up with rare animals in his Stourbridge house, as his dad, Derek, who is the zoo’s senior curator, has hand-reared many and is currently breeding rainbow boa snakes.

Sam said: “ Dad hand-reared a chimpanzee once and we also had lemurs and marmosets.

“We’ve now got dozens of snakes, a dog, tortoises and mice, and at the moment we are hand-rearing a baby squirrel monkey.

“I’m used to being surrounded by animals ­ it’s in my blood."