Hidden diary now in Dudley Zoo archives

Before the days of computers, 1969 was a time when everything was recorded by hand.

The diary, which was found stashed behind a cabinet when the former mongoose and porcupine enclosure was taken down to make way for the new home for the zoo's binturong, or bearcat, pair, features handwritten records about giraffes, gazelles and various other animals.

And while much has changed over the last half a century, the content of the Boots-branded book is similar to what Dudley Zoo's keepers log today, taking note of breeding behaviour, feeding habits and medical records.

However, nowadays this information is entered into computers and then uploaded the details to the zoological information management system.

Assistant curator Jay Haywood said: “It’s been very interesting to see how zoo keepers used to keep their records in the days before computers would have been used here.

“It was particularly fascinating to me as the majority of the entries were made by the former head of section Eileen Skinner, who retired shortly after I joined the zoo in 1999.

“All surviving keeping records since the zoo opened in 1937 are kept in our archives so this document has filled a gap in our history and will be wonderful to look back on for years to come.”