Christmas comes early for animals at National Zoo in Canberra

Aceh the Sumatran tiger scaled a tree to claim his gift early on Thursday morning, tearing through the wrapping in seconds as Santa made a special delivery to the animals at the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra.

Visitors gathered to watch meerkat pups and capuchin monkeys tackle wrapping paper and papier mache (made from more than a few recycled copies of The Canberra Times as it turns out).

Wildlife supervisor Bec Scott said the annual tradition was not just good fun, but also provided important enrichment for the animals.

Each present is designed according to an animal's intelligence, she said, some harder to unwrap than others.

Arataki the sun bear had his paws full with a Christmas pudding coated with honey, and like many of us tend to do on the 25th, overindulged a little.

The meerkat den saw a few minor sibling squabbles break out as gifts filled with fruit and vegetables were dropped in. The family are in for a busy Christmas day, Ms Scott said, with two parents wrangling five pups, including three four-month-olds.

But, luckily, all animals made Santa's "nice list" this year. Many, including Aceh, are members of species highly endangered in the wild. Arataki the sun bear was rescued from a circus and his mate Otay saved from the restaurant trade in Asia.

The zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day, when keepers will stop by to drop off some less photogenic treats for the animals.

But there wasn't much traditional food on the menu on Thursday either. Instead of turkey, Aceh sunk his teeth into a whole chicken, while capuchin monkeys enjoyed treats like bark filled with "yummy bugs".

Special activities will run at the zoo all holiday season.