These children look like they are enjoying their day of meeting creatures galore.
From Harton to Foxden, we have archive photo from the times when the zoo came to town.
Take a look and see if you can spot someone you know in these Shields Gazette archive photos.
1. Saying hello to a spider
St Peter's Church, Harton Village, playgroup celebrated its 25th anniversary with a visit from Elaine Burridge of Zoo Academy. Does this bring back memories from 2013? Photo: Tim Richardson
2. Getting ahead in 2013
Zoo Academy's visit to Queen Elizabeth Court with Simonside Primary School pupils looked like a great occasion. Leighton Simmons, 7, certainly appears to be having fun with his new pal. Photo: Stu Norton
3. A great piece of hiss-tory from 2015
Simonside Primary School pupils Cerys Gillis and Grace Bell look at a python with Queen Elizabeth Court resident Mary Robe joining them. Photo: Tim Richardson
4. A special visitor to the playgroup
St Peter's Church, Harton Village, playgroup in 2013. What a day it was with a visit from Elaine Burridge of Zoo Academy and some of her amazing friends. Photo: Tim Richardson