Paws off the pumpkins! Adorable lion and tiger cubs prepare for first Halloween at West Midlands Safari Park
With spooky season fast approaching, West Midlands Safari Park have introduced their lion and tiger cubs to some Halloween traditions this week.
Keepers presented whole pumpkins to the big cat youngsters and their families, as a form of seasonal enrichment to offer new sights, textures and smells, all stimulating natural behaviours.
The trio of lion cubs, born in April this year, wasted no time getting stuck in, stalking their pumpkin prey, then pouncing on them, followed by fiercely protecting them from the rest of the pride.
The pumpkins were also a huge hit, not only for the ten-month-old, Sumatran tiger cub triplets, but for their older sister too, two-year-old Lestari, who wasted no time in snatching a pumpkin up in her jaws and running off to play pumpkin-bobbing in the pool.
Although the cubs may have looked like kittens playing with balls of wool, the aftermath showed that the pumpkins’ flesh had huge teeth and claw marks gouged into them, demonstrating just how powerful these little, big cats are.
Senior Keeper of Carnivores, Shuana Jenkins, said: “Any novelty item makes excellent enrichment for our animals, giving them a chance to use some of their natural, species-typical behaviours, whilst interacting with it.
"The team have loved watching both our lion and tiger cubs get into the Halloween spirit with their first experience of pumpkins, with all the cubs showing just how strong they are with the unexpected ease it's taken for them to carry them around.
“Not to be outdone, the adults have also shown that their playful Halloween spirits’ remain intact, proving just how important any type of enrichment is at promoting interaction and behaviours at any age.
"Any pumpkins not used for theming around the Park, are donated to our animals, so if you’re visiting this spooky season, keep an eye out, as you may be in for a treat!"
