A Howl-O-Ween Treat! Animals at the Safari Park Get Their Paws on Pumpkins…
Animals at West Midlands Safari Park have been getting into the Halloween spirit, with African wild dogs, pygmy marmosets, dholes and Rodrigues fruit bats presented with their own pumpkin-themed surprises.
Keepers presented whole pumpkins to the four different species as a form of seasonal enrichment to offer new sights, textures and smells, with some showing more interest, than others.
The African wild dogs wasted no time getting stuck into their pumpkins, which had been covered in some of their favourite meaty treats. Meanwhile, the pygmy marmosets were initially unsure about their autumnal decorations but soon got curious when they discovered favourite snacks hidden among the gourds.
The dholes were less convinced, giving their pumpkins a tentative sniff before moving on, while the Park’s Rodrigues fruit bats showed little interest in the decorations and stuck to what they do best – hanging upside down!
Senior Keeper of Carnivores, Shauna Jenkins, said: “As the Park transforms for Spooky Spectacular, our animals reap the benefits of one of their favourite seasonal enrichment items - pumpkins!
“Individuals were given the opportunity to interact with the pumpkins in their own way, showing off the natural behaviours of their species. Novel items like these are a small part of our wider enrichment programme, with animals across the Park receiving daily opportunities to sniff, play and explore.”
Animal enrichment encourages natural behaviours and provides mental stimulation, with unused pumpkins from the Park’s Halloween theming donated to the animals.
It's not only the animals that get to play among pumpkins at this time of year, as the rest of the Park has been transformed with hundreds of pumpkin displays as part of the Park's Spooky Spectacular event, running until Sunday 1 November.
Guests can enjoy family-friendly activities including Patch’s Pumpkin Party, monster walkabouts, the Movie Monsters Trail, crafts and Halloween-themed treats, and for those seeking extra thrills, Torchlight Tours: The Dinosaur Experiment offers an after-dark adventure through the Land of the Living Dinosaurs.
The celebrations will culminate on Saturday 31 October, when the Park stays open until 9pm for the brand-new Safari Skies Drone Show, featuring a 12-minute display of wildlife-inspired images, light and music.
Spooky Spectacular activities and the Safari Skies Drone Show are included in standard admission, which also includes the four-mile Safari Drive and Safari Walk areas. Guests can book online for the best prices, with tickets including a free return visit. Selected tickets also include access to the Adventure Theme Park rides.
