The animals are cared for in a visitor-free environment during the coronavirus pandemic…

ITV has commissioned a series that will explore life during the COVID-19 lockdown at London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo. A two-part documentary directed by Barnaby Peel called London Zoo: An Extraordinary Year will discover how the zoos are taking care of almost 20,000 animals in their charge with no visitors allowed on the premises, and also form a retrospective about London Zoo’s nearly 200 year history.

“The story of what’s happening behind the scenes at ZSL at this unique moment is a fascinating and compelling one,” said ITV’s controller of factual Jo Clinton-Davis in a statement. “The familiar world of the zoo but as we’ve never seen it before.”

Producer Matt Smith added: “With intimate access to the zoo, its keepers and animals we’ll follow real-life drama as it unfolds whilst recounting extraordinary nuggets of the zoo’s rich backstory.”

No air date has been set for London Zoo: An Extraordinary Year by ITV yet.