Zoo animals enjoy summer treats

By Dean Murray via SWNS

London Zoo's creatures are pictured enjoying some cool summer treats.

Tigers, penguins and baby monkeys explored food-based enrichment at the attraction.

The Sumatran tigers were treated to popsicles made from frozen blood, for which they had to put their super sense of smell to use and sniff out in their Indonesian-inspired Tiger Territory habitat - making it the perfect snack for a carnivorous big cat.

London’s only living rainforest, London Zoo’s Rainforest Life, has experienced a recent baby boom, with the arrival of three young primates.

The tropical biome, which is home to Amazonian species including monkeys, sloths, tortoises and anteaters, has recently welcomed two endangered Golden lion tamarins and a White-faced Saki.

The primate infants and their doting parents had to delve into two paper beach balls, which were filled with the monkeys’ favorite dish of mealworms.

Encouraging the monkeys’ scavenging instincts, the novel feeders also piqued the primates’ curiosity.

London Zoo’s Animal Manager, Dan Simmonds, said: "As parents up and down the country plan ways to keep their children engaged for the school holidays, London Zoo’s keepers have created a raft of summer-inspired stimulating activities for the animals in their care.

"London Zoo is home to more than 10,000 animals, each with specific needs and tastes, so our keepers have their work cut out coming up with ways to encourage them to put their skills to use."

The conservation zoo’s colony of Humboldt penguins saw keepers place buckets around their seaside habitat. The naturally inquisitive creatures love to investigate new things – but were soon distracted by the bucket of fish being held by their keepers.

Feeding the penguins’ sprats and octopus by hand not only ensures every bird has had a helping but also helps the penguins’ keepers to encourage the flightless birds to stand on scales when they need weighing.

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