Move over, children an Easter egg hunt in Chile was organised just for zoo animals.

At the country’s largest private zoo, Bioparque Buinzoo in the capital Santiago, animals like meerkats, monkeys, lemurs and small wild cats took part in a special food hunt on Sunday.

The annual event is designed to entertain visitors while also encouraging the animals to use their natural hunting and foraging instincts.

Zookeepers hid food inside small bags decorated like Easter eggs across different enclosures. For example, caracals small wild cats had to jump onto tree branches to reach meat-filled treats.

In another enclosure, a meerkat searched for eggs placed in a basket among rocks. Monkeys and lemurs were given fruits hidden in paper bags decorated with bunny ears.

Zoo director Ignacio Idalsoaga said the idea is to recreate natural conditions, as animals in the wild spend much of their time searching for food.

He clarified that the treats were not chocolate eggs but foods similar to what the animals would normally eat in their natural habitats.

The Easter-themed activity has been held at the zoo for the past 16 years. This year, sheep were also included, as they searched for food pellets placed inside a colourful ball with small holes.

“Our creative team came up with some very imaginative ideas this year,” Idalsoaga said