Dudley Zoo’s Asiatic lionesses had an eggscellent start to Easter Day with an eggy breakfast – lion style!

Lions Asha and Kyra, who was celebrating her 13th birthday, couldn’t believe their eyes when they discovered the Easter bunny had left them a special enrichment gift in their one-acre paddock; a giant straw nest full of huge papier mâché eggs. Keeper Josh Luxton, who assisted the Easter bunny, said:

“We made the eggs out of recycled paper animal feed sacks and newspaper, sticking them together with flour and water and we sprayed them with perfumes, as well as adding a few of their favourite meaty treats inside and the straw nest was made of used giraffe bedding to tantalise all their senses! 

“The lions, especially birthday girl Kyra, loved the treat and it was great to see them running around the paddock tucking into their Easter eggs.”

Enrichment within a zoo environment is hugely beneficial for animal welfare by stimulating and encouraging natural hunting, tracking and foraging behaviours.