IN PICTURES: Christmas come to West Midland Safari Park

As the mercury falls bosses at the safari park are making sure that their charges will enjoy a very merry Christmas in their Bewdley home – and will be giving them all the care they need at this special time of year.

Although a full Christmas dinner will be off the menu due to the very strict specialist diets the animal must follow, a team of staff will be working on Christmas Day to ensure the animals are safe, warm and well fed.

Special festive deliveries in previous years include a baby giraffe born on Christmas Day and a wildebeest on New Year's Day so workers will be on call 24 hours a day, in case of emergencies.

The safari park residents are not the only animals in the Black Country who are gearing up to the festive season.

The staff and animals at Dudley Zoo have been holding their own countdown to Christmas.

Around 25 keepers will be working Christmas Day, spending time with their favourite animals sharing gifts and presents to spoil all their animals on the special day.

With festive stockings stuffed with mealworms and seeds which have been handed out to the spider monkeys, to the meerkats having their enclosure decked out with decorations, the zoo has been making sure everyone is in the Christmas spirit.

Keepers down on the zoo farm and reptile enclosures have also transformed the barns and tanks into a festive grotto.

Visitors can even send Christmas cards to the seven chimpanzees at the zoo, that they will be given – along with their presents – on Christmas morning.

West Midland Safari Park is open throughout the festive season this year for its Wild Winter Safari experience.

With many of the park residents being more suited to the sunshine and savannahs of Africa than the icy chills of the Black Country park bosses say they are doing everything possible to keep them warm and comfortable.

Director of wildlife, Bob Lawrence, said: "All of the animals need a bit more attention at this time of year.

"It is really important for us to make sure that the animals are all in good health before the bad weather hits, so it is in our best interest to make sure that they are all fighting fit.

"All of the animals have heating in their enclosures, the lions have a heat room which they spend a lot of time in and the giraffes and elephants have a full heating system."

The park keeps over 100 tonnes of straw in storage, which keepers began collecting in July and August to make sure they will not be running low on food at any point.

Mr Lawrence added: "Food has not ever really been an issue, we keep plenty of straw in storage and if meat freezes we can just thaw it out.

"In the past we have had problems with water freezing over but now we have a water bowser that we fill up and place in a heated room over night so that we do not run out of a water supply.

"The diets we have for the animals are really strict and important to keeping them on top form, but that does not mean that some of the keepers slip them a treat every now and then when my back is turned."

After being hit by heavy snow in the past, the park has now invested in its own snow plough and lays grit to ensure roadways are kept open.

There have also been days when the ice has been so bad that animals, such as giraffes, have been unable to go outside.

Mr Lawrence said: "We are constantly on the go, clearing the roads and all of the rangers have four-by-fours to make it as easy as possible to get around the park.

"When the bad weather hits us, it is just a case of when the going gets tough, the tough get going and we just have to get on with it."

While some of the animals will be staying warm indoors others will positively embrace the icy weather, The Humboldt Penguins of the parks discovery trail, will be more than happy to welcome the blasts of cold that will be hitting the Black Country this winter.

Mr Lawrence, said that, whatever the weather, staff will be ensuring the animals are safe and well this Christmas and New Year.

He said: "We have 15 staff members that work Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Eve. We rota it around so that everyone gets one holiday day off.

"There will be two or three members of staff on-call throughout the night in case anything goes wrong.

"In the past we have had a giraffe born and Christmas Day and a Wildebeest born on New Years Day.

"A calender really does not make any difference to the animals.

"For staff, the days are no different. We do not have any celebrations as such, we just treat it as a normal day.

"Some of the staff will do things like wear a Christmas hat or pull the occasional cracker but really we just tend to get on with everything.

"Most of the staff that work on these days tend to start around 4am or 5am so they can leave have their dinner with their families and then come back in the evening.

"We prepare what meals we can for the animals in advance, apart from the perishable items.

"At least whoever is working knows that they can come in and a high percentage of the meals are ready to give to the animals straight away."

Mr Lawrence, added: "Not all animals come out when the weather is bad. There have been mornings where I have come in to find the outside of the giraffe enclosure covered in a sheet of ice so it has not always been safe to let some of the animals out.

"I recommend that anyone who wants to see a specific animal to call up the park on their day of visiting so they will not be left disappointed."

The park holds a four mile drive through safari, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with lions, white tigers, rhinos and giraffes before dropping off their cars and heading on-foot through the parks fantastic all-weather discovery trail.

The discovery trail, is a fantastic experience for visitors as it is home to a variety animals from creepy crawlies, under-water wildlife in the Seaquarium, free-flying bats and the parks latest indoor heated exhibit 'Lorikeet Landing' where visitors can immerse themselves in the flock of 52 Australian rainbow lorikeets.

Mr Lawrence, said: "The discovery trail is brilliant as most of it is indoors so it is a great place to see the animals and keep warm.

"Vistors to lorikeet landing can buy a small pot of nectar, which will give them a real close-up experience to the birds.

"All of the regular shows, feeds and talks will be taking place as normal, but the theme park rides will be closed.

"That being said, there is still plenty for everyone to see and do."

Throughout December, the park is hosting its annual Santa Safari event in the discovery trail which is running up until Christmas Eve.

Santa Safari sees the discovery trail decked from head to toe in decorations to add that extra special touch and a guarantees visitors with a winter wonderland experience.

Guests will be able to make their way through the safari and discovery trail before journeying to meet the man himself, Santa and his elves.

Mr Lawrence, said: "The Santa Safari has proven to be very popular in the past couple of years and it is looking to be the same this year.

"I really recommend families who are considering coming to book in advance.

"Families get admission to the safari, the African village and lemur woods as well as meeting Santa, so it is a really great day out.

"Discovery trail looks great as well, it is covered in artificial snow and has really brought the festive season to the park."

ust because it is Christmas does not mean that the everything in the park comes to a sudden stop when it is closed to the public.

Staff still have to be on hand to take care of the animals throughout the Christmas and New Year period.

Anyone wishing to visit the park for the Santa Safari can find package prices on the parks website.

Wild Winter Safari will be running until February 8 2015 before the park fully opens on February 14.

As well as spreading the Christmas cheer for the animals. Dudley Zoo is playing host to Santa and his grotto, held inside the castle.

Families can purchase tickets right up until Christmas Eve which gives them access to the zoo as well as the chance to visit Santa in his grotto.

Tickets visit Santa are selling out fast, so anyone wishing to visit him and the animals should contact the zoo for more details.