AssetID: 55179983
Headline: RAW VIDEO (with music): Adorable lion and tiger cubs get into the Halloween spirit as they play with pumpkins for the first time
Caption: Lion and tiger cubs at a UK safari park have been having a fang-tastic time getting into the Halloween spirit — by playing with pumpkins for the very first time. Keepers at West Midlands Safari Park treated the big cat youngsters and their families to whole pumpkins as part of a seasonal enrichment activity, designed to give them new sights, textures and smells while encouraging their natural instincts. The trio of lion cubs, born in April this year, wasted no time getting stuck in — stalking their pumpkin “prey” before pouncing, then fiercely guarding their spoils from the rest of the pride. Over in the tiger enclosure, the pumpkins were an even bigger hit. The ten-month-old Sumatran tiger triplets — along with their two-year-old sister, Lestari — all got involved in the Halloween fun. Lestari was spotted snatching up a pumpkin in her jaws before dashing off to enjoy a spot of pumpkin-bobbing in the pool. While the cubs may have looked like playful kittens rolling around with toys, the aftermath told a different story — with deep claw marks and bite holes gouged into the orange flesh, showing just how powerful these “little” big cats really are. Senior Keeper of Carnivores Shuana Jenkins said: “Any novelty item makes excellent enrichment for our animals, giving them a chance to use some of their natural, species-typical behaviours, whilst interacting with it. The team have loved watching both our lion and tiger cubs get into the Halloween spirit with their first experience of pumpkins, with all the cubs showing just how strong they are with the unexpected ease it's taken for them to carry them around! “Not to be outdone, the adults have also shown that their playful Halloween spirits remain intact, proving just how important any type of enrichment is at promoting interaction and behaviours at any age. Any pumpkins not used for theming around the Park are donated to our animals, so if you’re visiting this spooky season, keep an eye out, as you may be in for a treat!”
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