A female red panda cub born on 21 June 2026 to parents Mei Lin and Sanka has completed her first health check at three months old and been named Omari, meaning 'light' in Nepalese. The birth is significant as red pandas are endangered with fewer than 10,000 remaining in the wild, and the cub was born as part of an EEP (EAZA Ex-Situ Programme) conservation collaboration between European zoos.
The park will open its Conservation Station on 19 and 20 September from 11am to 2pm to mark International Red Panda Day, offering guests information about red panda conservation and the chance to see the red panda family. The park supports the Red Panda Network, funding their Forest Guardians programme in Nepal which trains and pays local people to monitor and protect red panda habitat.
West Midlands Safari Park will debut a brand-new drone show on 31 October featuring hundreds of drones creating images of animals including big cats and giraffes in a 12-minute aerial display. The family-friendly show will be the grand finale of the park's Spooky Spectacular Halloween event, with performances beginning at 7:30pm.
A male foal named Oakley and a female foal named Ozara have been born to mothers Akuna and Nafeesa respectively, just 17 days apart in July. Oakley required intensive round-the-clock care from keepers after struggling to stand independently, but both foals are now thriving and have been introduced to the safari habitat alongside their mothers.
The park's Grevy's zebra population is part of an EAZA ex-situ programme (EEP), a collaborative conservation initiative across European zoos and wildlife parks aimed at protecting this endangered species. The park regularly donates funds to the Grevy's Zebra Trust to support wild conservation efforts including water provision for zebras and local communities in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Students at the Safari Academy achieved a 91% pass rate across Animal Care and Animal Management courses, with one student securing the first-ever Triple Distinction award. The Level 3 Year 2 cohort achieved 100% progression to university, reflecting the success of the zoo's unique education model combining classroom learning with hands-on animal care experience.
The zoo is launching a brand-new K-Pop Summer event running daily from 1 to 31 August, featuring a 35-minute live stage show with energetic choreography and chart-topping hits performed three times daily plus an additional evening show on Saturdays. All activities, including interactive character encounters, dance-offs with resident explorer Eliza, prehistoric encounters, conservation activities and access to the animals, are included in standard admission starting from £17.40.
A red panda cub has been born to six-year-old Mei Lin and eight-year-old Sanka on 21 June, marking the fourth cub born at the Park in as many years. The sex of the cub is not yet known, and keepers will perform a health check at three months to determine its sex and assign a name beginning with 'O'.
The Park sponsors a forest guardian through the Red Panda Network (RPN) to monitor and protect wild red pandas and their habitats in response to rising threats from poaching, hunting, and illegal wildlife trade. With fewer than 10,000 red pandas remaining in the wild, the partnership supports local communities in conservation efforts.
West Midlands Safari Park has been awarded four prestigious accolades recognising guest experiences, animal welfare, conservation, and workplace excellence. The awards include TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice recognition for Safari Lodges for the fourth consecutive year, a BIAZA runner-up award for the 'New Pad for the Pod' hippo habitat project, a Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace Award, and a top 10 ranking in the Big Day Out Index.
Two Humboldt penguin chicks, named Oasis and Ozzy, have hatched at the zoo's Penguin Cove following successful breeding. The chicks are part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria's conservation breeding programme for this vulnerable species, which has only approximately 20,000 individuals remaining in the wild.
The zoo is offering free Little Penguin Wristbands during May for children between 0.8m and 1m in height to celebrate the hatching of two Humboldt penguin chicks. The wristbands provide access to smaller rides within the Adventure Theme Park and can be collected from the Wristband Office with the purchase of a Ride Wristband.
Two giraffe calves, Olive (born January 2026) and Namara (born October 2025), are now on display at West Midlands Safari Park as part of the Giraffe Jamboree celebrations. Visitors will be able to spot the calves exploring their habitat alongside the rest of the herd during the festival.
West Midlands Safari Park is hosting Giraffe Jamboree, a month-long family festival running 2–31 May featuring live stunt shows, giraffe feeding, and conservation activities. The event supports the Giraffe Conservation Foundation's work protecting Nubian giraffes in Uganda, with highlights including the Jumping Giraffes Live Show, giraffe trail activities, and encounters with calves Olive and Namara.
Three lion cubs born at the zoo on 13 April 2025 marked their first birthday with an enrichment activity featuring a zebra-print cardboard cake filled with meat. The celebration highlighted the importance of enrichment for big cats and the conservation significance of the birth, as lions are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN with only 22,000–25,000 remaining in Africa.
The zoo is running its annual Easter Eggstravaganza event featuring guest activities including an Easter egg trail, live entertainment, and photo opportunities with costumed characters. The event focuses on native British species and conservation education, with the park decorated with Easter theming and photo points.
Keepers at the zoo provided Easter-themed enrichment for their colony of 15 Humboldt penguins, including floating egg toys in the pool and fish-filled eggs hidden in the habitat. The activity encouraged natural foraging and problem-solving behaviours while adding a seasonal celebration to the park.
West Midlands Safari Park has won four awards at the Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards 2026, including Business Events Venue of the Year, Experience of the Year for the Wild Keeper Retreat Package, and Highly Commended for Accessible and Inclusive Tourism. Head of Wildlife Angela Potter also won the prestigious Worcestershire's Unsung Hero Award, recognising her 45-year career dedicated to animal care, conservation and education.
Two giraffe calves, Namara and Olive, are now on display at the zoo and can be seen exploring their habitats on the Safari-Drive. The arrivals are part of the zoo's newest animal collection.
A nature-inspired Easter event runs from 28 March to 12 April 2026, featuring egg hunts, live entertainment, and new characters Petal and Professor Pollen. The zoo's conservation team will highlight native UK species and encourage visitors to support wildlife in their own gardens.
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