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Christmas tree-themed blocks of ice are on the menu for animals at Auckland Zoo on Christmas Day.
The zoo’s carnivore team manager, Kristin Mockford, decided to get creative and treat the animals with a festive party this year.
Themed treats for animals like red pandas, otters, and cheetahs included blocks of ice to help cool them off in the summer weather.
Kristin Mockford / Auckland Zoo
One-year-old red panda Dalha enjoys a Christmas tree-shaped block of ice.
Red pandas, including one-year-old Dalha, had Christmas tree-shaped grapes and pears cut from their blocks of ice.
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The zoo’s little Asian clawed otters had red ice balls added to their ice blocks, as well as peas and corn.
The five-year-old cheetah, Quartz, had chunks of rabbit meat inside her blocks of ice.
Kristin Mockford / Auckland Zoo
Five-year-old cheetah, Quartz, had little pieces of rabbit in her festive ice cream.
The frozen foods inside were adapted to the palate and biology of the animals, the zoo spokeswoman said.
“Of course, animals don’t know what Christmas is,” he said, “but they love everything new, different and enriching.
“Our caregivers always have creative ideas to ensure this.”
Kristin Mockford / Auckland Zoo
Otters play with their red ice balls.
Kristin Mockford / Auckland Zoo
He decided on blocks of ice, given the summer weather.
