It’s not just people who enjoy a Christmas dinner these days. The animals in the Beekse Bergen safari park also receive extra pampering. The menu includes goose, vegetable pie and Christmas fruit.
The lions are surprised when large Christmas packages suddenly appear in their outdoor enclosure. Mandela, the male of the group, runs over first. With a few big swipes he breaks the box. He eagerly runs off with a goose.
“Hopefully they will enjoy it again this year.”
The Christmas dinner has now become a tradition in the Beekse Bergen. “Yes, certainly,” explains zookeeper Dililah Snijders. “Every year they get a nice Christmas dinner. Hopefully they will enjoy it again this year.”
But that’s still the question. While Mandela is already feasting on his goose, the other lions and cubs look on with some despair.
“It’s very exciting for them.”
Dililah can laugh about it. “It is still very exciting for them. The cubs were already there last year, but they were still so small that they ate with their mother. Now they have to figure it out for themselves for the first time. And that is fortunate for Mandela He has already gone through all the boxes and has enough geese today. He will soon be bellying up into the air.”
The lions’ Christmas dinner attracts a lot of attention. The Butterhoff family from Heemstede stands with their car on the side of the road. Three heads stick out of the skylight. “Yes, we have a top spot,” mother Miriam laughs. “It’s special to see and experience. I don’t know if they really do the lions any favors, but it’s really fun for the children.”
“This means it’s a party for everyone.”
Sons Nathan and Noah nod enthusiastically. “I like it. I think they’re eating a chicken, but I hope I don’t get that tonight.”
Leo de Waal from Goirle is taking plenty of pictures of the Christmas dinner. “It looks good. I like that they are doing this. This makes it a party for everyone, including the animals.”