Lions, elephants, macaques, and rockhopper penguins were treated to an early Christmas at Whipsnade Zoo, with zookeepers creating special seasonal food and gifts for them.
Kicking off the festive fun at the UK’s largest zoo, the colony of Northern rockhopper penguins tucked into a Christmas-tree-shaped ice block, with their fishy breakfast concealed inside.
The zoo’s troop of cheeky Sulawesi crested macaques woke to find their home decorated with Christmas crackers, testing their excellent cognitive abilities to work out how to retrieve the snacks inside.
Meanwhile, the seven North African lion cubs got their first taste of festive fun, as their zookeepers decorate their paddock with scented stockings, presents and crackers to stimulate their incredible sense of smell.
They even had a fireplace, created from cardboard by Higher Education Animal Management students from University Centre Peterborough (Stamford College), which dad Malik wasted no time investigating.
Finally, the conservation zoo’s Asian elephants, including three-year old Nang-Phaya, had their very own Christmas tree to marvel at, with the playful pachyderms encouraged to rub against, prod, and even eat the pine.
Whipsnade Zoo’s Animal Manager Hayley Jakeman said: “Christmas feels like the perfect time to celebrate the 11,000 animals that call our conservation zoo home.”
“Putting novel items into our animals' homes helps to encourage their inquisitive nature, as it gives them something new to explore. Some will need to use their sense of smell to work out that the unfamiliar items contain food, and others will need to use their brains to work out how to retrieve their food from inside festive packages.”
“Visitors to Whipsnade Zoo this Christmas can see our animals – possibly enjoying festive treats – as well as join with some great fun events.”
The perfect festive family outing this December, visitors can enjoy a jam-packed day of Christmas-themed animal talks, competitions, and the chance to bag some festive prizes at Whipsnade Zoo, all the while celebrating the giving season alongside the 11,000 animals that call the conservation zoo home.
Every visit to Whipsnade Zoo this Christmas will help to support ZSL’s science and conservation work to protect and restore wildlife around the world.