Zoo animals overjoyed after snowstorm transforms enclosures into winter wonderland

A Portland zoo has captured its animals excitedly frolicking amid piles of snow, following one of the city’s greatest snow events.

Video posted to the Oregon Zoo YouTube account yesterday shows a polar bear, seals, otters and an Asian elephant enjoying the frosty transformation.

While the bear and seals appear at home rolling around in the snowdrifts, it’s the elephant – which in the wild does not frequent areas prone to snowfall – that appears to make the most of the occasion, racing about and playfully flinging snow into the air with its trunk.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has declared a state of emergency after severe winter storm conditions led to some areas receiving more than 15 inches (38cm) of snow, local broadcaster KGW reports.

The storm, touted as possibly the biggest snow event experienced by Portland in almost three decades, has led to numerous and school closures and created dangerous road conditions.

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