Record number of visitors to zoo

More than 1m people visited Dublin Zoo last year — an all-time high for the attraction.

Confirming it as the most popular family day-out in Ireland, figures show 1,029,417 visitors poured through the gates during 2012 to see animals from around the globe.

Leo Oosterweghel, director of the zoo, said years of development had ensured it was now one of the best zoos in the world.