London Zoo’s gorillas get Halloween pumpkin treat
Silverback gorilla Kiburi enjoys a Halloween pumpkin.
London Zoo’s gorilla troop got a head start with their trick-or-treating this week, after their keepers provided some pumpkin snacks.
Zookeepers set out seven carved pumpkins in the Gorilla Kingdom to kick off its Boo at the Zoo celebrations.
Gorillas are herbivores, with their food consisting of fruits, leaves, seeds and stems. The zoo’s gorilla troop have a carefully created diet designed by an expert zoo nutritionist.
As a special treat this Halloween, the gorillas were given pumpkins stuffed with their favourite pulses.
It was silverback gorilla Kiburi who reached the pumpkins first, and he began gently munching away. Meanwhile, Gernot ran around to collect bits of pumpkin to eat in private.
Soon after, baby Venus ventured in behind her mum, Effie. The curious western lowland gorilla was soon tucking in to her first ever pumpkin treat.
Dan Simmonds, Zoological Operations Manager, said: “Halloween is the perfect excuse to spice up the diet of our animals, and it’s a great seasonal enrichment for them. Gorillas are also very curious by nature, and they really enjoyed discovering their stuffed surprises in spooky pumpkin shape this morning.
“It was also lovely to be able to treat our baby gorillas Venus and Juno to their first scary squashes – Venus displayed great curiosity and took some bites of the pumpkins under the watchful eye of mum Effie.”
London Zoo will be hosting its ‘Boo at the Zoo’ events throughout the October half-term (25 October- 2 November). These will include spooky animal talks, a silent disco, and a Halloween craft exercise for little ones.
Image used with permission from London Zoo.
© London Zoo (ZSL)
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