Gorillas go ape for Xmas gifts at Longleat near Frome

Christmas came early for a group of gorillas at Longleat Safari &

Adventure Park when they were presented with a sackful of festive

presents.

Brothers Alf, Evindi and Kesho were fascinated by the brightly wrapped

gifts and carefully tore holes in the Christmas paper to try and see

what was inside.

Each of the parcels contained a selection of their favourite fruits and

vegetables and it didn't take long for the huge Western lowland gorillas

to tear off the paper and get to the treats inside.

Longleat's deputy head keeper Ian Turner said: "The gorillas were really

interested in the wrapping paper and spent several minutes looking at

it and carefully inspecting each of the presents before taking off the

paper.

"It's always amazing to see just how gentle these hugely powerful apes

can be and to admire their dexterity as they tore back little bits of

the wrapping to get a peek at what was inside," he added.

All three brothers, who were born at Dublin Zoo, were reunited for the

first time earlier this year to form the new bachelor colony at

Longleat.

Featuring more than a dozen mature trees in an extensive outdoor grassed

area, the spacious gorilla enclosure overlooks Longleat's Half Mile

Lake and utilises natural boundaries wherever possible without the

barriers of bars or glass.

In addition to the existing trees, keepers have installed a selection of

outdoor climbing logs and frames. The gorillas also share a large

indoor shelter with a communal area featuring ropes, swings and climbing

apparatus.

And it wasn't just the great apes who enjoyed some early festive spirit.

Longleat colony of mischievous rhesus monkeys also got in on the act

when they were given Xmas gifts of their own – keepers even provided

them with signs reminding Santa not to miss them out on Christmas Eve.