STAFF at West Midland Safari Park are gearing up for their annual Easter fun and even the animals are getting involved with the celebrations.

For this year’s Easter Eggstravaganza, which starts on March 24 and runs until April 15, keepers have been tasked with creating Easter-themed enrichment for the smaller animals in their care.

Ferrets Nala and Baloo, Julian the chinchilla and tiny tenrec Bob enjoyed exploring the Easter scene and finding their eggs which had cod liver oil drizzled over them. The exercise also encouraged natural foraging behaviour.

Amy Sewell, Discovery Trail Head Keeper, said: “It’s really important that we give all our animals enrichment - it’s an eggcellent way to keep them mentally stimulated.

“We have a wide range of friendly animals that you can meet during our encounters throughout the Easter holidays. Each one is completely different which makes it so much fun to work with them.”

Friendly Animal Encounters will take place throughout the Easter holidays and will feature tenrecs, ferrets and chinchillas, amongst other smaller creatures.

The Encounters are fully interactive, with keepers providing information on the animals’ habitats and diet - there is even the opportunity to stroke them.

The three-week-long Easter Eggstravaganza event will include a whole host of activities, such as an Eggsplorer’s Trail to find the giant missing eggs.

There will also be an exclusive competition, where guests will need to find the Frozen Egg and upload a picture of themselves with the egg to Facebook.

To celebrate the Commonwealth Games, the Park is hosting its very own Easter Commonwealth Games outside the Safari Academy.

Guests can compete with the Easter Bunny in egg and spoon races and even attempt to beat him at his own hopping races.

The Safari Academy will also hold the daily Eggsplorers Craft Club, where guests can make their very own spring flowers, Easter carrot bunting, or a springy bunny rabbit.

Easter Eggstravaganza activities are included in the standard admission charge of £24 for adults, £19 for children aged 3-15 and £22 for concessions. Children under the age of three years are admitted free of charge.

Further information and tickets are available from the Park’s website www.wmsp.co.uk or by calling 01299 402114.