Colorful packaging and decorative elements typical of these festivals surprised lions, meerkats, lemurs, different birds, porcupines, mangabeys or gorillas and especially baby elephantswho took advantage of the traditional meeting with Santa Claus at the Bioparc Valencia, which even immersed in the hippopotamus aquarium. Various species in the park have found these ‘eye-catching surprises’ in their outdoor enclosures, leading to great excitement to find out what they are.
Typical decorations and packaging of all sizes and colors adapted to the variety of animals, large herbivores such as elephants or hippos, even fierce lionsthe curious lemurs, the restless meerkats or the impressive gorillas.
For babies it’s something really special and on this occasion it was baby elephants. Makena and Malik who showed their enthusiasm by playing with the boxes which they opened like the largest land animal in existence. By accessing its appetizing contents and closely followed by the females of the herd, they tasted what is for them authentic candy: carrots, leeks, onions or tomatoes.
Santa Claus visited the different habitats recreated at the Bioparc such as the savannah, the equatorial forestthe large wetlands of Kitum Cave and the island of Madagascar. And he also went to the unique amphitheater so that this Christmas tradition could also reach the porcupines, vultures, cranes, hornbills and owls of the educational exhibition “The Cycle of Life”.
The cautious meerkats, who seemed frightened at first by this news, when they sniffed something really good They ran everywhere looking for their favorite food. Quite the opposite of the reaction of the gorillas, who quickly headed towards the decoration which hid the treats, of which the mangabeys, with whom they shared the space, also took good note.
The intrepid Santa Claus immersed himself, to place the most desired foods, in the huge aquarium of the only underwater view hippos in Spain. Lemurs, unique evolutionary primates endemic to exotic Madagascar, took advantage of the opportunity to savor its special treats.
And the towering lions used their wild instincts to destroy the packaging with their powerful claws and devour the tasty fresh meat. Park officials explain that these “environmental enrichment” activities incorporate stimuli and challenges tailored to each species to encourage exploration, play and other behaviors, strengthening their natural skills, physical and mental activity.
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