A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy who wants to work in animal conservation has donated his pocket money to Crocodiles of the World - and written them a poem.

Michael Shorey regularly visits the Brize Norton zoo and was determined to help when he saw it was asking for donations.

The zoo is currently seeking funds to help it keep ticking over whilst it is closed due to the lockdown, and its founder Shaun Foggett warned that it could take years for the popular attraction to recover from the impact of coronavirus.

To do his bit, Michael, who lives in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, donated his pocket money to the charity's foundation.

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His mum, Lauren Shorey, 35, said: "He's always had a love of crocodiles - I grew up in Zimbabwe and my family have always been involved with animal conservation.

"We go out to Zimbabwe once a year so he's grown up with the knowledge of conservation and wanting to work and help animals - he has a love of nature.

"We've visited the zoo ever since he was little, he loves it there.

"We go at least three times a year and he loves getting close to the crocodiles.

"He'd written the poem during lockdown and then came across the fundraiser appeal and he asked if he could donate all his pocket money.

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"He's now making a little video with facts and figures and has so far raised £100 and hopefully we can get to maybe £250.

"It's great that he's using lockdown to do something positive so it's good to see him making a positive out of a negative situation."

Michael has sent out an appeal to friends and family to sponsor his poem.

It's not just Michael who is helping out, as his younger sister Lucy is also a big fan of the zoo.

She has been helping Michael with his fundraising efforts, as the siblings have sold some of their toys to help the cause.

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Speaking about Michael's efforts, Mr Foggett said: "It's been a really stressful time and so reading Michael's poem and hearing about his fundraising really moved me.

"It's incredibly generous of him and so fantastic to hear how much he enjoys coming to the zoo and his genuine passion for crocodiles.

"I look forward to the day he and his family can visit us again and I can thank him personally.

"Sharing our knowledge and inspiring visitors to understand and appreciate crocodiles and their conservation is the reason we are here, and this just makes us even more determined to keep doing exactly that, no matter how tough it gets."

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Aside from essential zookeepers, the majority of the zoo's staff have been furloughed.

The zoo hopes to raise £35,000 on its Crowdfunder page.

Electricity bills and enclosure maintenance are two of the major expenditures for the zoo, which has so far raised just over £6,000.

The names of everyone who donates will be added to a plaque at the zoo when it it can eventually reopen.

Crocodiles of the World is home to 19 of the 24 crocodile species, including critically endangered species.

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It is heavily involved in important conservation work.

For example, Mr Foggett pointed out that there are less than 100 Chinese alligators left in the wild and the attempts to breed them at Crocodiles of the World are the only conservation efforts for this species in the UK.

The zoo’s registered charity, The Foundation, has run the zoo since it opened in 2011.

To donate, please visit: crowdfunder.co.uk/help-care-for-our-animals-whilst-the-zoo-is-closed