Santa stockings and fireplace make for festive enrichment

As the festive spirit hits, keepers at Whipsnade Zoo are helping their meerkats join in the merriment with personalised Christmas stockings.

Meerkat trio Paul, George and Ringo each have a stocking full of treats hung on their very own fireplace, to encourage them to investigate something new as part of their daily enrichment activities.

Zookeeper Mark Holden said: "Paul, George and Ringo have definitely made it onto Santa’s nice list this year, so we stuffed their stockings full of their favourite cricket snacks as a pre-Christmas treat.

"Stuffed stockings are a great way of keeping the trio stimulated and encouraging them to be inquisitive."

Whipsnade's Meet Santa experience launched last week, coinciding with the meerkat's festive enrichment. Fitting in with the theme, the zoo will be offering children the chance to learn more about reindeers during daily talks at their paddock.

Image courtesy of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo