A little Christmas cheer comes to Taronga Zoo Sydney

While Christmas plans across NSW have been thrown into chaos, keepers from Taronga Zoo Sydney have still taken the time to celebrate with a few of the animals and spread some much-needed festive cheer.

To mark the occasion, Taronga has given some extra special treats including Christmas trees, wreaths and even snow to the animals - from the African Lions to Australian Sea-lions, to the Giraffes, Capybaras, Bilbies and Squirrel Monkeys.

At this link you’ll find some adorable vision, images and short videos of the animals in question enjoying their Christmas treats.

Taronga Zoo Sydney has celebrated Christmas a little early this year with some special enrichment for a few of its most recognisable residents.

To mark the occasion, Taronga has given some extra special treats to the animals - from the African Lions to Australian Sea-lions, to the Giraffes, Capybaras, Bilbies and Squirrel Monkeys.

• Lion brothers Lwazi and Ato have used their natural instincts to investigate some aromatic pine Christmas trees.
• The Giraffes and playful herd of Capybaras have munched their way through a delicious array of festive wreaths made from tasty browse, apples and elephant grass.
• Young Australian sea-lion pup Amalie and mum Nala saw “snow” for the first time, thanks for a generous donation of fishy-smelling ice from the Sydney Fish Markets.
• It was baby’s first Christmas for five tiny arrivals in the Squirrel Monkey troop, as they enjoyed some hanging Christmas decorations made from sweet potato and capsicum.
• And finally, some of Australia’s most iconic animals and a species very close to Taronga’s heart – the greater bilbies – have used their excellent sense of smell to investigate some native flowers.

Taronga Zoo Sydney is open every day of the year including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

For those who might not be able to visit in person or are currently in quarantine, you can also tune into TarongaTV.com for some therapeutic live animal cams and array of virtual keeper talks and adorable animal antics.

Enrichment is a really important part of the lives of the animals at Taronga Zoo and gives them an opportunity to display natural behaviours they would use in the wild.

Christmas is an exciting time for all of us humans – from presents and food to those recognisable smells and sounds - and in lots of ways it’s no different for the animals.

While Taronga provides enrichment for its animals every day here, it always brings a smile to the face of the keepers to spread a little bit of Christmas cheer, just before the holidays.

Merry Christmas!

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: taronga.org.au