Australia's Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Frank Sartor
announced Wednesday that the festive spirit would be spread to Taronga Zoo when
animals receive special Christmas treats. “Each day Taronga’s Keepers change the way food is presented to the
animals to stimulate and encourage them to forage, but today will have
a Christmas twist,” Mr Sartor said. Today, 10 month old Wallaby Jolene enjoys her very first Christmas.

  Photos Courtesy of Lorinda Taylor/Taronga Zoo

The activities are designed by the Zoos’ dedicated Keepers and
behavioural biologists to arouse the animals’ inquisitiveness and
stimulate their natural behaviours.

Mr Sartor said the Keepers will help elephant calf Luk Chai
celebrate his first Christmas this year with iceblocks filled with
fruit treats and peanuts.

“The Elephant Keepers will be putting coloured ice treats in the
paddock along with a massive iceblock which took the keepers three days
to make.

“The elephants will use their trunks and feet to break the ice apart
to reach the food – a truly wondrous sight,” Mr Sartor said.

Taronga’s Sumatran Tiger, Jumilah, will find an array of boxes
wrapped in Christmas paper and filled with his favourite meat morsels.

Mr Sartor said that Tiger numbers have collapsed from 100,000 a century
ago to less than 3000 across the globe today. In 2010 Zoos are hoping
to use the community interest in the Chinese Year of the Tiger to focus
attention on the loss of habitat and wildlife.

“Sadly we expect a surge in the demand for Tiger parts that could deliver a fatal blow to their numbers in the wild.

“Already Sumatran Tigers are under pressure from jungle clearance to make way for Palm Oil plantations,” Mr Sartor said.

Australia’s iconic native animals will also be getting specially
designed edible Christmas trees surrounded by festive bags for the
kangaroos, wallabies and the Emu at Taronga’s Australian Walkthrough
exhibit.

The slightly unusual Christmas trees will incorporate the native
animals’ favourite foods with branches of mulberry leaves, decorated
with grevillea and hibiscus flowers. As an extra festive treat the
Keepers have designed festive balls made out of pinecones filled with
peanut butter, mashed banana and small native flowers.

Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos are open throughout the
summer school holidays including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New
Year’s Day.