The meerkats made short work of their advent calendar at Knowsley Safari Park(Image: Knowsley Safari)

Knowsley Safari shares gorgeous pictures as animals get 'into festive spirit'

by · Liverpool Echo

Knowsley Safari shared these beautiful photographs with the ECHO

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The animals at Knowsley Safari Park are getting into the Christmas spirit with some festive-themed enrichment. Andean bears, Bahia and Chui were spotted toppling over a huge pretend snowman. The meerkats made short work of their advent calendar, tearing through the doors, no patience, just paws. While Knowsley’s European bison turned their trees into the ultimate festive toy.

The Amur tiger cubs, Ozo and Akira, are celebrating their first Christmas, with mum Yuki showing them how to unwrap their presents. Knowsley Safari shared on November 5 that Yuki gave birth to a female cub and a male cub, who were named Akira and Ozo respectively.

The Safari gave ECHO readers the opportunity to name one of the cubs, whose sex, names and weights would later be revealed, from one of the 10 beautiful names. The cubs were born on July 29.

An animal team spokesperson at Knowsley Safari said: “Enrichment activities encourage exercise and natural foraging behaviour, as well as delivering sensory stimulation, and Christmas time makes this even more fun for the animals and keepers alike!”

Take a look at the beautiful photographs below.

  1. The European bison playing with Christmas trees
    1 of 10(Image: Knowsley Safari)
  2. The meerkats pictured having fun with their advent calendars
    2 of 10(Image: Knowsley Safari)
  3. The Andean bears had fun with their fake snowman
    3 of 10(Image: Knowsley Safari)
  4. It is estimated that the current population of European bison is around 6,000 in the wild
    4 of 10(Image: Knowsley Safari)
  1. Andean bears are also nicknamed spectacle bears due to the markings around their eyes
    5 of 10(Image: Knowsley Safari)
  2. 6 of 10(Image: Knowsley Safari)
  3. Meerkats live in a family group, called a mob, of up to 50 meerkats
    7 of 10(Image: Knowsley Safari)
  1. The adorable tiger cubs at Knowsley Safari
    8 of 10(Image: Knowsley Safari)
  2. Andean bears are the only bears found in South America
    9 of 10(Image: Knowsley Safari)
  3. The tiger cubs are marking their first Christmas at the safari park
    10 of 10(Image: Knowsley Safari)