Zoo Meerkats Celebrate the Start of December by Digging into Tasty Bug-Filled Advent Calendar
ZSL London Zoo
December is here! For some, the start of the month means the countdown to Christmas has begun.
The ZSL London Zoo treated their meerkat pack to an advent calendar to involve their animal residents in the holiday season. From the outside, the seasonal gift looks like a typical advent calendar, with 24 numbered boxes and festive red and white decorations — but the treats inside are a bit different.
Instead of being filled with the chocolates and other sweets humans love, the meerkats' advent calendar was packed with crickets, a favorite snack for the little critters.
The London Zoo's meerkats Frank, Dracula, Penelope, Meko, and Timone, didn't follow the proper advent calendar protocol when presented with the gift. Instead of opening one door on each day of December, the animals decided to open all 24 boxes at once.
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ZSL London Zoo
ZSL London Zoo
"The meerkats had great fun starting the countdown to Christmas by foraging in their advent calendar for their favorite tasty crickets," Martin O'Sullivan, a keeper at the London Zoo, said in a statement.
"It's safe to say that patience isn't a meerkat's best quality, but who amongst us hasn't opened a door or two a little early on their advent calendar over the years?" he added.
Meerkats aren't the only animals getting treated to advent calendars this year. There is a selection of advent calendars made for pets that animal lovers can get to involve their furry friends in the holiday tradition.
