Animals enjoy Halloween pumpkin treats!

Our animals have enjoyed exploring some spooktacular treats ahead of Halloween.

Keepers offered pumpkins to species across the zoo and each displayed different reactions and natural behaviours as captured in these stunning photos.

In the wild, Asian small-clawed otters, bokiboky and Guianan squirrel monkeys spend time searching for and manipulating their food, so keepers scattered insects inside the carved pumpkins to encourage foraging behaviours.

The Burmese mountain tortoises chomped into whole pumpkins using their jaws, enjoying the different tastes and textures of their treat.

Meanwhile, Marwell’s inquisitive male Amur tiger, Bagai, used all his senses to investigate and play with his pumpkin, batting the treat around with his powerful paws and making a splash as he took it into his pool.

Animal behaviourist Dani Free, said: “These photos show how a novel and unexpected item like a pumpkin can benefit animal welfare by promoting positive emotions and expression in species, such as curiosity, interest and contentment.”