Monkeying around the Christmas tree!
Tuesday 20 December 2005
ZSL London Zoo’s thirteen squirrel monkeys woke up to their very own unique Christmas this morning, as their walk-though forest enclosure was stocked full of gifts and decorations!
Leaping out of their beds and into their huge enclosure for the first time that day, they enjoyed specially created presents around the Christmas tree and fruit filled stockings.
On a normal day keepers use specially created enrichment techniques, to encourage the animals to use their natural instinct and skills, whether that be making them forage for food as they would in the wild, taking them for daily walks or providing them with toys – this was taken one step further today as regular treats of crickets and mealworms where given a festive twist by being hidden inside presents and stockings.
If your Christmas is the busiest time of the year and you feel in need of a break, why not relax with a stroll around ZSL London Zoo and see some of our fascinating residents.
The Zoo is open every day bar Christmas Day so take some time out to visit our monkey walk-through and hundreds of other amazing species, many of which are highly endangered.
ZSL London Zoo’s Bolivian squirrel monkeys live in a state-of-the-art, barrier free walk-through enclosure, which opened this year. The walk-through is open to the skies of the capital with no boundaries between the animals and our visitors.
