AMOROUS animals feeling the full force of Cupid’s arrow celebrated Valentine’s Day in style at Whipsnade Zoo.
Zookeepers set the scene for romance for saki monkeys Leo and Kos by presenting them with a heart-shaped box containing dried fruit and nuts in the hope that they would expand their Whipsnade family.
Senior keeper Carole Day said: “We’re hoping Kos and Rio will breed again - this might help get them in the mood!”
But as the Bard said, the course of true love never did run smooth, and it was their sneaky sons Pablo and Jose that ate most of the treats.
However, once they have found a mate lemurs typically stay together for life, so hopefully Leo and Kos have until death do them part to add to their tree-swinging team.
All of Whipsnade’s ten ringtail lemurs are male, so their table-for-two dining experience was likely a dress-rehearsal for when they are introduced to lady lemurs.
Senior keeper Kathy Doherty said: “The group are looking for ladies - if another Zoo wanted one of them as part of their breeding programme, they could potentially go there.”
One of the lemurs enjoyed scoffing sultanas from his heart-shaped champagne flute in the snow, but his furry friends left him stood up as they neglected to brave the cold conditions – hopefully it’ll be all right on the night.
Egyptian tortoises that were the size of a grape when they hatched one year ago were photographed next to strawberries that dwarfed them in comparison.
The endangered reptiles – extinct in their native Egypt – were part of a litter born to tortoises seized by HM Customs and Exise and were destined for the illegal pet trade.
