Shropshire zoo welcomes new arrivals

The Donnington Wood-based centre has rescued a number of animals recently, which will start taking part in therapy sessions this year.

One of the animals the zoo rescued in 2015 was Bertie the parrot.

The snow white bird was brought into the zoo in October and was very shy at first.

Since then the exotic bird has been looked after by Scott Adams and his team, who have helped build Bertie's confidence and now they say he loves talking to people.

Mr Adams said: "It's amazing to see how much better Bertie is compared to when he first came to us.

"He was very shy and didn't cope very well around people.

"Now he loves it, he is always talking to different people and he loves meeting different people.

"We just don't know how old he is as he came into us as a rescue, but he loves to hang off things.

"A lot of baby parrots do that, so we think he is a young bird.

"It will be great when we start taking him to therapy sessions as the older people love that."

Mr Adams added: "It really brings a smile to their faces when they see him." Also new to Exotic Zoo for 2016 are a sugar gliders, which are part of the kangaroo family.

• Read more about attractions in and around Telford here

Again these were given to the zoo as rescue animals and are currently living in the centre's nocturnal unit.

However, the sugar gliders will not be used for therapy sessions due to the conditions they need to live in.

Instead the animals will be used to help teach a number of Telford students who are studying animals welfare.

Mr Adams said: "Sugar gliders have the softest fur you could ever touch.

"They are lovely animals and they are very small, but they are part of the kangaroo family."

For more information about Exotic Zoo click here.