The meerkats foraged for tasty crickets in their advent calendar.

Meerkats, lions and squirrel monkeys kick off Christmas.

Animals at ZSL London Zoo are celebrating the countdown to Christmas with some special advent calendars.

Keepers gave the lions, meerkats and squirrel monkeys a unique festive treat on Thursday (30 November) in anticipation of the Christmas celebrations to come. 

Arya and Bhanu, the Asiatic lions, followed a scent trail of cinnamon and nutmeg to a giant five-foot lion-sized advent calendar filled with meat for them to discover.

The Bolivian black-capped squirrel monkey troop living at the zoo were given an exciting challenge, as zookeepers hung up advent pouches filled with breakfast for the animals.

Meerkats Meko, Penelope, Dracula and Frank didn't miss out on the fun, with a colourful advent calender full of cricket snacks provided for the curious creatures.

Dan Simmonds, zoological operations manager at ZSL, said: “It’s the season of giving and our keepers enjoyed sharing the Christmas spirit with the animals at London Zoo.

“Marking the first day of advent, our lions loved sniffing out meaty treats in their five-foot advent calendar, while the meerkats and squirrel monkeys foraged for their breakfast behind colourful doors and in hanging numbered bags.

“There may not be a chocolate in sight, but like children across the country, the animals couldn’t resist opening just one door!”  

Images (C) ZSL London Zoo