Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sarah Ward

Safari park chimps join hunt for Easter eggs designed by school children

Peter the Chimpanzee with papier-mache Easter eggs filled with healthy treats (Andrew Milligan/PA) - (PA Wire)

Chimps at a safari park have taken part in an Easter egg hunt as part of a project educating children about animal care.

Primates living at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park near Stirling hunted eggs made from papier-mache by primary school children.

Pupils from Kincardine-in-Menteith and Doune primaries created the eggs as part of an enrichment project designed to stimulate the chimps’ curiosity and problem-solving skills.

Chippie the chimpanzee enjoys the contents after cracking into one of the eggs (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

The eggs were later filled with healthy treats for the chimps to discover.

The project aimed to foster a deeper connection between children and nature, while also highlighting the importance of good animal care.

Pupils gained first-hand experience with animal enrichment – an essential aspect of welfare that keeps animals mentally stimulated and physically active.

The children decorated their eggs with bright colours, natural materials, and even special messages for the chimps.

Peter the chimpanzee found several eggs (Andrew Milligan/PA (PA Wire)

Education team leader Claire Herbst said: “The relationship between people and wildlife is so important, and projects like this help to inspire the next generation of conservationists.

“It’s wonderful to see young minds getting involved in enrichment, understanding how we care for our animals, and experiencing the joy of giving something back to nature.

“It has been fantastic to see the children’s creativity come to life, and the chimps certainly enjoyed their Easter egg hunt thanks to their hard work.”

Chippie and Gill, right, found a nest containing several colourful eggs (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

The eggs were placed on Chimp Island and the animals had to forage for, shake, and tear open the colourful creations to reveal the hidden treats.

A spokesperson for the park said: “Blair Drummond Safari Park is committed to creating opportunities for schools and local communities to engage with wildlife in meaningful ways.

“The park extends its gratitude to the participating schools for their enthusiasm and creativity and looks forward to collaborating on future conservation education projects.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.