Lions having a ball in the snow as Chester Zoo copes with the big freeze

Jan 14 2010 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

Lions having a ball in the snow as Chester Zoo copes with the big freeze

CURIOUS lions got a frosty reception from some icy new friends at Chester Zoo.

Staff at the zoo created snowmen in the big cats' compound and planted giant steaks on their heads, just in case they were tempted to give the new arrivals the cold shoulder.

Other animals watched in disbelief as their homes were turned into a winter wonderland by blizzards.

Some creatures were kept warm indoors but others basked in the newly white animal kingdom.

Spokeswoman Rachel Ashton said the zoo dealt well with the challenging conditions.

She added: “Staff were a little bit thin on the ground last Wednesday. Some people were stuck at home but we got the animal routines done.

“Some of the animals stayed inside the houses rather than going outside because it was too cold for them.”

Ms Ashton said: “The zoo looks very pretty. The tigers have been sitting on their platform looking at it all.

“The penguins are from South America so they prefer it hotter.

“The red pandas have had a field day with it and the lions quite like it. The gibbons and orangutans are flying about making hooting noises from on high.”