Even Lucifer the chimpanzee likes Christmas

DONNA WALSH/ Waikato Times

DEVIL OF A TIME: Cheeky chimpanzee Lucifer tucks into an early Christmas present containing popcorn and dried bananas at Hamilton Zoo.

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He might be named after the devil, but that didn't stop Lucifer the chimp celebrating Christmas a little early yesterday.

The 21-year-old and his father Mike tucked into his present of popcorn and dried bananas at Hamilton Zoo.

And even though the mischievous chimpanzee was a bad boy in March – sparking a police call-out when he unlocked the door to his enclosure – there was still a present with his name on it under the Christmas tree.

Primate keeper John Ray said all eight chimps would also get a present on Christmas Day. The bigger boxes would be filled with shredded paper and straw and some dried fruit, while there were also Christmas crackers filled with popcorn.

Other festive treats for the animals are coconut, jam or marmite smeared on the inside of the box and meaty treats for the carnivores. It is slightly more exotic fare than their regular diet of grains, cereals, foliage, and fruit and vegetables.

And if the sun is shining on Christmas Day, there's an extra treat in store for them.

"We have some big frozen watermelons, so if it's warm enough we will toss all of the chimps one of them each and it will keep them busy for quite a few hours," Mr Ray said.

Christmas Day is the only day the zoo is closed.

"It's a good chance for us to spend time with our animals. We tend to have a skeleton staff, so we will do what we need to do and then spend more time with the animals," Mr Ray said.

And while the animals tuck into their Christmas treat, the zoo keepers unlucky enough to be working on Christmas Day will be having their own shared barbecue.

- © Fairfax NZ News