Pumpkin feeds: Meerkats get stuck into early Halloween surprise
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Meerkats at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent quite literally got stuck into the Halloween treats provided by zoo staff, who filled a pumpkin with the animals' favourite cuisine, cockroaches and crickets.
Solent
The group spent some time trying to figure out how to get to their delicious delicacies, before one headstrong member decided to dive in headfirst.
Adrian Harland, the park's animal director told the Metro: 'It is important to provide enrichment for our animals. This helps keep them interested and offers new challenges for them.
'The pumpkins were perfect because the animals had to work out how to retrieve the treats inside.'
But, the question is, did they work out how to get out once they'd finished?
Halloween ideas
- Have a miniature celebration in Devon<p> At <a href="http://www.babbacombemodelvillage.co.uk" target="_blank">Babbacombe Model Village</a>, you'll see spoof horror scenes in the gardens as special illuminations, fire and sound effects bring the gardens to life after dark. Take a 20-minute lantern lit tour along the woods, past eerie ’abandoned’ sheds and through the ‘haunted’ workshop. A light-hearted Halloween scarefest in miniature. Perfect!</p>
- Witness some wizardry at Bristol Zoo Gardens<p> For some animal magic Halloween styl <a href="http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/halloween-festival-0" target="_blank">Bristol Zoo Gardens Halloween Festival </a>will be hosting Walter the Wizard’s Halloween hunt from 22-30 October. On 28 October try the pumpkin carving competition and come dressed in your favourite Halloween costume for the fancy dress competition. </p>
- Have a Halloween Horror Night in Florida<p> As if the big, scary rides weren't terrifying enough, for 25 nights of the spooky season, <a href="http://www.universalorlando.co.uk" target="_blank">Universal Studios</a> in Florida plays host to some extreme Halloween entertainment, presided over by the, ahem, lovely Lady Luck (pictured). Get inside the macabre mind of Edgar Allen Poe in Nevermore: The Madness of Poe and enter the world of upcoming horror flick The Thing.</p>
- Take a spooky tour at Burghley House, Linolnshire<p> Set in the grounds of England's greatest Elizabethan house, there's pumpkin fun in store for families at <a href="http://www.burghley.co.uk" target="_blank">Burghley House</a>, Lincs. Tackle a trail around the Sculpture Garden in search on the missing pumpkins. Each pumpkin carries a clue and once all the clues have been solved you can meet the Fairy Princess who will reward you with sweets. Children are encouraged to come in fancy dress while pumpkin treats will also be in store in the Orangery restaurant, including pumpkin soup, of course, plus pumpkin cookies. Free with a House and Gardens or Gardens only ticket. From Saturday 22nd October to Sunday 30th October.</p>
- Get spooked out at the Eden Project, Cornwall<p> The Eden Project becomes <a href="http://www.edenproject.com" target="_blank">Halloweden</a> this month, with frightful fun for your little monsters and you. Channel your inner Harry Potter with wand making and potion mixing workshops and get inspired by the pumpkin carving demos. And if that doesn't scare them, your Dancing on Ice impressions on the indoor ice rink might do the trick...</p>
- Celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico<p> Cemeteries might be the last place you'd want to hang out around Halloween, but not so the Mexicans, who honour their ancestors for three days over All Saint's Day by visiting them at their gravestones, decorating and cleaning them and sometimes even staying the night. Offerings in the form of sugar skulls, favourite foods and drinks and marigolds are taken and, in some towns, ritualistic dancing with colourful costumes and skull and devil masks form part of the celebrations. For full on fun, check out the 'Day of the Dead' trip with <a href="http://www.gapadventures.com/"www.gapadventures.com " target="_blank">Gap Adventures</a>.</p>
- Take a Halloween Tour at Hampton Court Palace<p> Starting on October 31, and running through until March, <a href="http://Www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace" target="_blank">Hampton Court Palace</a> is leading ghoulish ghost tours, taking you to parts of the palace not normally open to public. Of Henry VII's six wives, three are said to haunt Hampton Court, so watch out for Jane Seymour sadly wandering through the Clock Court and Catherine Howard, pleading for her life in the corridors of the Haunted Gallery...<br /> </p>
- See a ghost or two at Longleat, Wiltshire<p> <a href="http://www.longleat.co.uk" target="_blank">Longleat House</a> is offering an exciting never-been-done-before Halloween tour from October 22nd to 31st. You’ll be met at Pets’ Cemetery where the fifth Marchioness’ fox terrier Jack is buried. Then it's off to the House for a spooky tour of the attics and basements – not for the faint hearted (there are really ghosts!). Walk over the ground where skeletons of monks were found and maybe you’ll see the famous Grey Lady or Little Alice who died when she was just 11 years old… </p>
- Go on murder mystery weekend in Northern Ireland<p> There's nothing like a spooky castle to scare the beejesus out of you, but throw in Halloween, a murder mystery and a night in the turret 'ghost' room haunted by the ill-fated lady of <a href="http://www.hastingshotels.com/ballygally-castle" target="_blank">Ballygally Castle,</a> Lady Isabella Shaw, and you have the recipe for a seriously sleepless night. The murder mystery night, including three course dinner and overnight stay, costs £95 per person. </p>
- See the zombies in Brighton<p> Prepare for gore galore if you're in Brighton on October 22nd, as hundreds of lifeless zombies take to the streets, arms outstretched and clothes soaked in blood, as part of the <a href="http://www.beachofthedead.com" target="_blank">Beach of the Dead Walk</a>. Join in the two hour walk from Victoria Gardens down to the Beach, then party like the undead at the official afterparty at Concorde2.</p>
- Try a Halloween Hoot in the Peak District<p> Learning to dance like a zombie, making your own broomstick and hunting for pumpkins are just some of the alarming activities on offer at the historic house <a href="http://Www.chatsworth.org" target="_blank">Chatsworth</a> this Halloween. Brave souls can also join a 'Warlock Walk' or a torchlit tour by night, exploring the creepy corridors and hidden corners of the house, followed by a restorative glass of mulled wine.</p>
- Visit a monkey forest in Staffordshire<p> Get up close and personal at <a href="http://www.trentham-monkey-forest.com" target="_blank">Trentham Monkey Forest</a>. During the run up to Halloween,ghoulish activities include spooky story time, colouring competitions and terrifying treats in the Ghoul's Cafe, while on 29 and 30 October at Trentham Gardens, you can try a Wilderness Survival Skills course including pumpkin carving.</p>
- Attend the World Ghost Convention in Country Cork<p> Scare yourself silly at the supernatural, annual <a href="http://www.discoverireland.com/" target="_blank">World Ghost Convention</a>. The creepy convention takes place at Cork City Gaol and covers all things otherworldly – from ghosts to fairies, hauntings to possessions. Hear first hand accounts of supernatural experiences , share your own and listen to guest speakers such as Ireland's most famous witch, the White Witch of the Isles.</p>
- See the Halloween parade in New York<p> The Big Apple becomes the Big Pumpkin as 50,000 ghoulishly garbed artists, stilt-walkers, breakdancers and jugglers take to the streets of Greenwich Village for their annual <a href="http://www.halloween-nyc.com" target="_blank">Halloween Parade</a>. Watch from the sidelines as giant papier-mache coffins, zombies and all manner of macabre monsters pass by, or get creative and join in the parade – there's a prize for the best costume.</p>
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