Zookeepers have given the animals food treats and perfumed gifts chosen to appeal to their skills in the wild.
The endangered Asiatic lions, Bhanu and Arya, along with their nine-month-old cubs, Mali, Syanii, and Shanti, found their home filled with golden presents scented with frankincense and myrrh.
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These gifts are meant to encourage the lions to use their sense of smell to explore the unfamiliar scents and the wrapped boxes.
The zoo’s black-capped squirrel monkeys were treated to small advent calendar boxes filled with their favourite insects, nuts, and seeds.
These boxes provide the monkeys with a new challenge, as they have to use their foraging skills to open the cardboard advent presents.
Angela Ryan, London Zoo’s head of zoological operations, said: “Introducing these festive offerings to the animals’ habitats is a way to encourage the lions and monkeys to use their incredible exploratory skills.
“The Asiatic lions rely on their keen sense of smell to discover treats, while others, like the squirrel monkeys, will put their problem-solving skills to the test, figuring out how to access goodies hidden inside festive packaging.”
Visitors to the zoo this December can enjoy a day of Christmas-themed animal talks and games, celebrating the season with the more than 10,000 animals that call the conservation zoo home.
For those wanting a more immersive experience, the zoo is offering a Christmas sleepover at the London Zoo Lodges on select dates.
Lodge guests will spend the night at the zoo and celebrate the Asiatic lion cubs’ first Christmas with them.
This VIP retreat includes wintery treats and mulled wine, a night-time tour of the zoo, and special gifts for children on arrival.
Every festive visit to London Zoo supports the Zoological Society of London’s (ZSL) science and conservation work to protect and restore wildlife around the world.
The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo runs from November 23, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
It is included with a London Zoo ticket, which starts from £27.
