WEST Midland Safari Park celebrated its 30th birthday in style at the weekend, kicking off its new season by giving crowds their first ever glimpse of a pack of rare African dogs.

It is the first time the breed of wild dog, of which there are only 10,000 left worldwide, has been seen in the UK.

Chief warden Bob Lawrence said: "We have had a great deal of people come to see the dogs. The weather was tremendous on Saturday, which meant the attendance far exceeded our expectations. the wild African dogs which have now taken up residence at West Midland Safari Park

"The dogs seem to be settling in very well, even though they have just spent six months in quarantine."

The Safari Park has invested heavily in pulling in customers for the new season, which runs until November 2, with antelopes, deer and water buffaloes joining the cast at the famous park.

Nearing completion is the new Seaquarium which aims to give visitors a taste of life off the land as well as the development of new "themed" areas of the park.

Mr Lawrence said: "We are looking to put the whole park into themed areas such as Pets Corner and the Creepy Crawlies exhibit.

"By the end of the season the park will be virtually unrecognisable from what it was two years previously."