San Diego Zoo in California, US, is targeting mums with a new marketing campaign.

Called Mommy Meetup, the early morning campaign offers groups of mothers and their young children free admission and a chance to get close with the zoo's animals.

Adrienne Niver, the San Diego Zoo's guest programmes department manager, said: "We feel it is very important to help children connect to wildlife at an early age and are pleased we can offer a new experience for mommy groups through Mommy Meetup."

The theme changes each month with the first, February theme, being ‘Stories on the Wild Side’.

The 100-acre San Diego Zoo also includes the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, which includes a 900-acre native species reserve, and the San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research.