Animals at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park near Ashford got into the spirit of Christmas when they were given Christmas hampers filled with delicious festive enrichment treats.

Animal Director Adrian Harland explained: ‘Enrichment is an excellent way of keeping our animals alert and challenged. Enrichment can be as simple as providing different sensory experiences such as textures and smells, feeding a variety of foods or providing opportunities to climb or dig.’

As the wild animal park prepared for the Christmas holidays, Ayu, the binturong along with the black and gold howler monkeys were given Christmas hampers stuffed with special treats suitable for their diets.

Ayu Photo: Dave Rolfe©

Adrian said: ‘Ayu really enjoyed her Christmas hamper and kept pulling it towards her in order to get more of the fruit as she hung upside down. The howler monkeys loved their hamper too although the wrapping paper proved to be more interesting than the contents.’

Ayu hangs around for her Christmas hamper Photo: Dave Rolfe©

Meanwhile the animals at Howletts Wild Animal Park near Canterbury were not missing out as they were given their gifts.

Howler monkey Photo: Aspinall Foundation©

As the wild animal park prepared for the Christmas holidays the tigers and lion tailed macaques were given presents stuffed with special treats suitable for their diets.

Neil said: ‘The tigers enjoyed meat filled presents whilst the lion tailed macaques had nuts and seeds. The macaques seemed to make the most out of this enrichment as they have very good problem solving skills and it didn’t take them long to rip off the wrapping paper to get to the treats inside.’

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park and Howletts Wild Animal Park are open every day except Christmas day during the festive period. To find out more about opening times please visit www.aspinallfoundation.org/portlympne or www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©