Dartmoor Zoo scooped two awards for their education programme at the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The Discovery and Learning department received a Silver award for their Enterprise Challenge, and a Bronze award for their Rangers Academy at the annual awards ceremony.

The Enterprise Challenge sees students handed the opportunity of becoming zoo conservation advocates for the day. In the challenge, they are tasked with deciding which new animal to introduce into the zoo’s collection, designing a suitable enclosure for the animal, and bringing the project in on budget before presenting to a panel of zoo managers.

The Rangers Academy course offers a five day taster into animal management and veterinary care work for children aged between 13 and 18 years old, and helps students who are working towards their Gold Duke of Edinburgh award.

Winners of this year’s prestigious competition were announced at a special gala dinner hosted by The Deep in Hull.

Benjamin Mee, the chief executive of Dartmoor Zoo, said: “BIAZA has 115 member zoos, including the Zoological Society of London, Chester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Paignton. To get recognition in this field is a huge achievement.”

Head of Discovery and Learning, Coral Jonas, said: “This is the first time we have put ourselves forward for the BIAZA awards and we are so pleased to have been recognised for the work we do towards our education programme at Dartmoor Zoo.”