Chimps at Scottish safari park hunt for Easter eggs designed by school children (2025)

Some of the children even wrote special messages for the chimps.

Chimpanzees at a Scottish safari park have taken part in an Easter egg hunt. The wholesome activity is part of a project educating local children about animal care.

Primates living at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park near Stirling hunted papier-mache eggs made by local primary school children. Pupils from Kincardine-in-Menteith and Doune primaries made the eggs as part of an enrichment project designed to stimulate the chimps' curiosity and problem-solving skills.

After their creation at the schools, the eggs were filled with healthy treats for the chimps to discover. The project was intended to foster a deeper connection between children and nature, as well as showcase the importance of good animal care.

Pupils gained first-hand experience with animal enrichment. According to organisers, this is an important part of welfare that keeps animals mentally stimulated and physically active.

The children decorated their eggs with bright colours and natural materials. Some even left special messages for the chimps.

Education team leader Claire Herbst commented: "The relationship between people and wildlife is so important, and projects like this help to inspire the next generation of conservationists.

"It’s wonderful to see young minds getting involved in enrichment, understanding how we care for our animals, and experiencing the joy of giving something back to nature.

"It has been fantastic to see the children’s creativity come to life, and the chimps certainly enjoyed their Easter egg hunt thanks to their hard work."

The eggs were placed on Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park's 'Chimp Island'. The animals had to forage for, shake, and tear open the colourful creations to reveal the treats inside.

A spokesperson for the attraction stated: "Blair Drummond Safari Park is committed to creating opportunities for schools and local communities to engage with wildlife in meaningful ways.

"The park extends its gratitude to the participating schools for their enthusiasm and creativity and looks forward to collaborating on future conservation education projects."

Part of the 'great ape' family that also includes gorillas and orangutans, chimps are known for displaying human-like qualities. Found in Central and Southern Africa, they use their facial expressions to communicate and can even solve simple problems.

Blair Drummond Safari Park has received mostly very positive reviews from visitors. On Google, it has an average rating of 4.7 out of five based on 8,700 reviews.

One recent visitor shared: "Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park is a fantastic place for a family outing, especially with kids! There’s so much to do, from seeing incredible animals up close to enjoying fun rides and play areas."

Another posted: "Definitely recommend a day out at Blair Drummond. We picked the perfect day to visit, the weather was nice.

"The park was pleasantly busy but wasn't absolutely rammed with people, so we were able to take a leisurely walk around without feeling rushed."

More information can be found on the Blair Drummond website.