Chimpanzees go ape for Valentine's Day

Love was in the air for ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s chimpanzees as they tucked into tasty treats dished up in heart shaped hampers to get them in the mood for Valentine’s Day. 

Keepers stuffed parcels full of the chimp’s favourite food, including apples and peanut butter, and put them around their enclosure in time for the big day. 

The romantic meal with a difference is part of the Zoo’s enrichment programme which stimulates the chimps’ curiosity and encourages their natural behaviours – and keepers say the six playful primates are bound to go ape over their Valentine’s treat. 

Keeper Jane Storr said: “We’re always looking for new ways of enriching our chimpanzee’s lives, especially at feeding time when we give them food in imaginative ways to keep them happy and healthy. 

“Chimps are curious by nature and the Valentine’s treats make an ideal gift for them – they had to work hard to get to their food by delving into the hearts to investigate their treats.” 

Visitors to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo this half term can learn more about love in the animal kingdom as Romancing the Zoo delves into the world of wildlife matchmaking. A host of interactive talks and feeds will be taking place throughout the week, revealing the secrets of animal mating and dating.