Christmas has come early for the animals at Canberra’s National Zoo and Aquarium, with its furry residents receiving special presents – like bug-filled bark – to feast on.

The zoo’s monkeys, tigers, meerkats and sun bears were treated to delicacies such as insects and biscuits spiked with oral hygiene products.

Wildlife supervisor Bec Scott said the early Christmas present exchange had become an annual tradition.

“We do try to do something every year for our animals. The keepers really love it, the visitors really love it and, of course, the animals really love it as well.”

Ms Scott and her helper, Santa “Claws”, dropped off presents at the monkey enclosure first, hanging paper mache baubles and presents off trees.

Ms Scott said inside the packages were a monkey-favourite: bark and bugs.

“Food is a huge motivator for them. It’s something that makes them super excited,” she said.

Treats were on offer in the strangest places. Photo: ABC

Next, Santa Claws gave the zoo’s tigers – Ndary and Aceh – something more substantial … in the form of entire chicken carcasses.

“The presents are a little bit different depending on what animal we’re giving it to. A a lot of it contains their daily food but also a special treat as well to make them extra excited,” Ms Scott said.

Ms Scott said while some animals could have potentially found themselves on the naughty list this year, Santa Claws was feeling generous.

“Certainly if I had the opportunity to make a naughty and nice list for our animals, there’d probably be a couple there who would get on it,” she said.

Arataki makes a bee line for the Christmas pudding. Photo: ABC

“But we like to give everything a special treat so everything is on the nice list this year.”

The sun bears, Arataki and Otay, received entire Christmas puddings, with a dental care twist.

Inside were treats designed to boost the bears’ oral hygiene.

And like most people on Christmas Day, Arataki dived face-first into dessert.

Some of the zoo’s newest residents – meerkat pups Surabi, Semush and Sekeema – enjoyed their first Christmas treats together, sampling some chopped vegetables.

The Christmas presents are also part of the zoo’s enrichment program, aimed at stimulating behaviours in the wild.

The presents are part of a program to stimulate behaviours in the wild. Photo: ABC

-ABC