Animals at North Yorkshire zoo get into the festive spirit (From York Press)

Animals at Flamingo Land zoo get into the festive spirit

8:41am Monday 24th December 2012 in News By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

EVEN the animals at a North Yorkshire zoo are getting into the festive spirit – by donning Santa hats.

And the creatures at Flamingo Land, near Pickering, won’t be short of company tomorrow, Christmas Day.

A team of zookeepers will be looking after them rather than sitting down for turkey and Christmas pudding and unwrapping presents.

The Kirby Misperton zoo is open every day from 10am to 4pm over the Christmas and New Year period, apart from Christmas Day, and zoo manager Ross Snipp said staff who will be on duty tomorrow will still be enjoying a special day.

“We have 20 zookeepers and about half of them will be working tomorrow to look after the animals, but there is always a great team atmosphere and everybody helps each other out and pulls together,” he said.

“There is a real buzz about the place on Christmas Day, as I know from working it myself in the past.

“We have to ensure the animals get the level of care which they would on any other day, but there are often a few special treats for them as well.”

After January 6, the Flamingo Land zoo will be open on weekends only until the start of its main season later in the year.

The theme park will not be open over Christmas and New Year but younger children will still be able to enjoy a selection of rides.