There was a freaky feast for snuffle-some beasts at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
Aardvarks and meerkats enjoyed spooky fun ahead of the 'Boo at the Zoo' October half-term activities at Whipsnade.
Two curious aardvarks and a ‘mob’ of meerkats got into the Halloween spirit last week, ahead of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s half-term Boo at the Zoo festivities, which kicked off on Saturday, October 22.
Papier-mâché pumpkins and wooden bats were filled with the animals’ favourite insect treats, after keepers at the UK’s largest zoo designed spooky surprises for their newest inhabitants.
Newcomer aardvarks Nacho, eight, and Terry, two, and a spirited, new meerkat named Joey, joined older meerkats Bibbity and Pixie and used all their senses and skills to investigate the ghoulish treats and retrieve the ‘delicious’ bugs hidden inside.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s Sarah McGregor said: “Our inquisitive new aardvarks and meerkats love to explore and play with anything new, and they seemed pretty delighted with their spooky snacks.
“Joey, our newest meerkat, seemed to think the papier-mâché pumpkin was a great place for hide-and-seek, and as soon as he’d eaten the treats, immediately climbed inside it!
“Our visitors will have just as much fun this half-term, exploring all the animal magic and fang-tastic fun of Boo at the Zoo at Whipsnade Zoo.”
Valiant visitors to Boo at the Zoo can enjoy a whole cauldron of spooky wonders, from ghost-spotting on a steam train to a magic show and disco, and from decorating their own pumpkins to creepy crafts.
Plus, families can learn all about the incredible animal adaptations used to survive nature’s most poisonous beasts.
Best known for its colossal beasts, like the zoo’s herd of endangered Asian elephants and two species of rhinoceros, the conservation zoo is home to 10,000 animals, from leaping lemurs to adorable otters.
Autumn visitors will be able to see some of the Bedfordshire zoo’s recent additions, including a baby Asian elephant, playing with the herd.
For hairy but not too scary Halloween fun, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo is set to be a spooktacular day out.
Join in the fun between now and Sunday, October 30 by booking your tickets now at www.zsl.org
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