BBC show on Colchester Zoo during the pandemic to air tonight

Zoo curator Sarah Forsyth was filmed for the 30 minutes Our Lives programme on BBC One.

Film crews followed Sarah for two weeks at the Maldon Road attraction during its closure due to the pandemic.

Viewers will get to see behind the scenes as staff were furloughed, there were animal emergencies and babies were born.

The zoo reopened in June having been closed since lockdown restrictions were introduced on March 23.

It has still faced bills of around £25,000 a day, with bosses expressing serious concerns for the future of the facility.

Kind-hearted supporters have helped raise more than £100,000 for the facility's operating fund.

The programme listing said: "Whatever is happening in the outside world, life in Colchester zoo goes on.

"Curator Sarah Forsyth is heading into the busiest summer of her life keeping countless animals happy while four out of five of her keeping staff are furloughed.

"Sarah lives on site – the animals are her family – and they have never needed her more.

"This documentary follows Sarah for two animal-action-packed weeks, entirely inside the walls of one of Britain’s largest zoos as she works tirelessly to deal with the summer baby boom, animal emergencies and unique situations created by the absence of paying public."

The episode will be BBC One East at 7.30pm on today, August 20.

It will be shown again on BBC One on September 9.

Visit colchester-zoo.com