Animals in a Welsh ‘matchmaking zoo’ are celebrating Valentine’s Day, all in the name of conservation.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo - National Zoo of Wales, in Colwyn Bay, is most definitely the place to find love, as many of its animal residents can vouch for.
Countless matches have been made by the zoo by working with other collections across the globe, in a bid to find the perfect pairings and to support conservation, North Wales Live reports.
Cute couplings have been made with Bactrian Camels, Sumatran Tigers and Red Pandas to name but a few.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the zoo owners have shared adorable pictures of some of their love birds (and camels, tortoises and seals).
What better way to show someone just how much you love them than by sharing your favourite food?
Over the weekend the zoo’s pair of Bactrian Camels Elsa and Genghis, enjoyed a dinner date with hot cross buns, while a couple of Red-Footed Tortoises enjoyed a romantic meal with their favourite juicy snack – heart-shaped watermelon.
Charlotte Dykes at the Welsh Mountain Zoo said: “The Welsh Mountain Zoo really is a place where the couples can find their true love and mate.
"Nearly all of our pairings and successful breedings come from matches with animals from other zoos.
"Together, we look at various criteria in our bid to make sure we find the right match for the animals themselves, with the wider aim of eventual breeding and thus boosting the species numbers, to support wider conservation efforts.
“Every day is Valentine’s Day for our many couples here – but today we can celebrate with our loved-up residents even more who help make the Zoo a wonderful place to be!”
The Welsh Mountain Zoo occupies 37 acres of space and is home to a variety of creatures.
It was opened by Robert Jackson on May 18, 1963, which is now run by his sons Chris and Nick.
In 2008, with support from the UK’s leading charity zoos, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Welsh Assembly Government, the zoo charity changed its name to the National Zoological Society of Wales and the Welsh Mountain Zoo was officially recognised as the National Zoo of Wales.
