Christmas Comes Early for Belfast Zoo Animals

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: December 9, 2021 12:30 am

Christmas comes early for Belfast Zoo Animals

An Asian elephant enjoys an early Christmas present at Belfast Zoo

Photo Credit: Belfast Zoo

Christmas has come early for the animals at Belfast Zoo. Keepers prepared some special presents for the animals at the Irish attraction this week.

Among the animals receiving their gifts were the zoo’s two elderly rescue elephants, the meerkats and the penguins. Each of the animal’s received some brightly wrapped enrichment gifts.

Dhunja and Yhetto the zoo’s elephants were quick to tuck in to their boxes stuffed with apples, hay and carrots.

Acting Zoo Manager, Andrew Hope, explains, “Animals often tend to get excited whenever they discover something new in their home. Some animals dig into their gifts straight away such as the meerkats and the elephants, whereas some are a little more reserved and inquisitive, like the penguins. You never quite know what way an animal will respond and it can often be quite funny to see them getting excited.”

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Elsewhere in the zoo the meerkat mob enjoyed rummaging through their boxes which were filled with tasty mealworms.

The presents are part of the zoo’s enrichment program. Giving the animals novel items such as the brightly wrapped boxes helps to keep them physically and mentally stimulated. It helps to keep the animals healthy and happy.

Over the coming weekends leading in to Christmas the animals at the zoo will receive presents. The special events are a perfect excuse to take advantage of the zoo’s current Kids Go Free promotion during December.

See the Belfast Zoo website below to find out when Santa will be delivering the animals their treats.

Learn more about Meerkats here – Meerkat Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about Asian Elephants here – Asian Elephant Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about the Belfast Zoo on their website – Belfast Zoo