FORMER Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq has signed up to present a television series following life at Colchester Zoo.

FORMER Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq has signed up to present a television series following life at Colchester Zoo.

The 32-year-old, who hit the headlines on Sunday when she was almost knocked to the ground by a demonstrator at the Olympic torch relay in London, will front the show for Channel Five.

Zoo Days will be a 20-episode series following Colchester Zoo - home to 545 species and sub-species of mammals, reptiles, fish and birds.

Trish Powell, executive producer at Granada Wild, said: “Konnie and the Zoo Days team have been given an amazing opportunity at Colchester Zoo.

“We get to see what happens before the doors open and what happens after they close. Our hidden cameras have been able to capture magical moments such as births and first meetings.”

Meanwhile, a pregnant elephant at Colchester Zoo has lost her unborn calf, keepers have said.

Keepers had been keeping a 24-hour watch on Zola, the pregnant elephant, in the hope of being on hand to assist her if she went into labour.

But after the 25-year-old's expected due date of the end of February came and went the only hope was that the date of conception was later than originally thought.

By running tests in the zoo has confirmed that the calf has died, the second unsuccessful pregnancy for Zola.

The dead calf should not present a health risk to her but she will be monitored weekly.

Zoological director, Anthony Tropeano said: “We are desperately sad that after such a long wait that we have had to presume that Zola has lost her calf.

“Zola has remained calm and happy throughout her pregnancy and we were all hopeful that this time round there could be a successful outcome for her.”