Perth Zoo animals receive early Easter treats

Animals at Perth Zoo have received special treats in a trial run of an Easter egg hunt to be held over the Easter long weekend.

The zoo’s sun bears, hyenas and meerkats dug into volunteer-made paper mache eggs as part of the Easter egg hunt yesterday.

In a video produced by the zoo, the animals can be seen tearing through the eggs to find their hidden surprises.

Exotic Fauna Keeper Marty Boland said the eggs were designed as a “serious puzzle” for the animals.

“Instead of chocolate, the eggs were filled with favourite food items and some even had different scents rubbed on them,” Mr Boland said.

“Curiosity is important for any creature and as part of our enrichment program we’re constantly ensuring every day is different”.

Zoo keepers constantly set new challenges for the animals to stimulate their hunting abilities and behaviours.

The Easter egg hunt will be one of many activities at Perth Zoo over the long weekend.