Battersea Park Children's Zoo puts on a terrifying Halloween display

Battersea Park Children's Zoo reminds visitors that the scariest thing happening this Halloween is extinction.

In an eye-catching Halloween campaign, rather than carving scary faces onto pumpkins, staff displayed IUCN classifications.

Visitors connected with the campaign and were faced with a stark warning on current biodiversity loss.

The zoo is a part of the British Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), a professional body representing the best zoos and aquariums in the UK and Ireland.

As a member of BIAZA the zoo is committed to conserving the natural world through research and conservation programmes.

Today almost 40,000 species that share our planet with us are facing extinction.

Jamie Baker, head keeper at Battersea Park Children's Zoo said: "Modern zoos and their conservationists, veterinarians, ecologists, keepers and supporters are actively fighting against extinction across the globe.

"It is our collective responsibility as humans to protect our wild places, and make the world a far less frightening place for future generations."

The zoo released a statement with some frightening figures.

95% of Madagascar's ring-tailed lemurs have disappeared since the year 2000. These family favourites at the zoo are at risk of extinction as a result of habitat destruction and the illegal wildlife trade.

The zoo's Chinese crocodile lizard is also facing extinction out in the wild with only 950 left due to habitat loss and pollution.

Cotton-top tamarins, of whom the zoo has two, only survive in 5% of their historic range due to logging, farming and the illegal pet trade.

And it's sad to think that wild Asian short-clawed otter populations are plummeting as a result of habitat loss, pollution, and rise of the exotic pet trade.

Over this Halloween weekend, alongside a visit to spooky activities at Battersea Power Station why not take an educational trip to the zoo.

You can visit the zoo's website to learn more.