Record crowds flocked to Dublin Zoo this year

Almost 1.1m people will have passed through the gates of Dublin Zoo by the end of the year.

The one millionth person to visit the zoo in 2015 arrived on October 10 this year, 19 days earlier than 2014's record-breaking figure.

Visitors are flocking to see the re-designed 'Sea Lion Cove and Flamingo Lagoon' and the arrival of 50 new animals, including the new Asian lion club.

Kamala, the zoo's new Asian lion cub, joined the five-strong pride in June, which includes his older siblings, Kyna and Kuno. There are believed to be just 400 of the endangered Asian lions left in the world.

The three elephant calves who arrived between July and September 2014 also continue to be a major attraction.

Other arrivals throughout a busy 2015 included a Californian sea lion, an eastern bongo calf, one Rothschild giraffe, 24 farm animals and a red panda.

The Phoenix Park attraction is currently creating the Orangutan Forest which should be ready in Spring.

The popular RTE programme 'The Zoo' - also credited with attracting visitors to the venue, will also return to television screens next year for a seventh series.