World Book Day: Watch children share books with animals at Drusillas

Children have dressed up as their favourite book characters to read stories to their animal friends at Drusillas.
By Juliet Mead
Published 3rd Mar 2022, 11:22 BST
Updated 3rd Mar 2022, 11:26 BST

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Local children were invited to the zoo park near Alfriston.

The sloths enjoyed Harry Potter, lemurs learnt about The Hungry Caterpillar, meerkats were treated to Tyrannosaurus Drip, and beavers listened to Rumble in the Jungle.

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Donning their World Book Day fancy dress costumes the children were invited to accompany keepers into the enclosures with a book of their choosing, to read aloud to animal residents. In addition to encouraging children to practice reading, the exercise forms part of the zoo’s animal enrichment programmes, introducing new and interesting things to explore to keep their minds stimulated.

Ella Farley, six, as Luna Lovegood and her brother Angus, four, as Willy Wonka read to Drusillas' inquisitive lemurs.Ella Farley, six, as Luna Lovegood and her brother Angus, four, as Willy Wonka read to Drusillas' inquisitive lemurs.
Ella Farley, six, as Luna Lovegood and her brother Angus, four, as Willy Wonka read to Drusillas' inquisitive lemurs.

Rufus Campbell, seven, dressed in a dinosaur onesie, had meerkats clambering on his lap to listen to him reading Tyrannosaurus Drip, whilst his younger brother Dylan, four, wore his cat costume to read Tabby McTat to Coco the donkey in the Park’s farmyard.

Ella Farley, six, dressed as Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter to read the beavers Rumble in the Jungle, and her brother Angus, four, dressed as Willy Wonka to read The Hungry Caterpillar to Augustus the capybara, and together they read to the Park’s group of inquisitive lemurs.

Gilbert Poland, six, showed off his favourite Avengers book to cheeky armadillos Patsy and Eddie, and his brother Hector, nine, dressed in full Gryffindor attire and matching wand, read from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban as a special bedtime story for the park’s new baby sloth, Athena, and mum Halina.

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Ollie Smith, managing director, said: “We pride ourselves in our educational offerings at Drusillas, from our school sessions and open days to the many educational interactives along our zoo route – our focus is always on having fun whilst learning and it’s lovely to encourage children to find the fun in reading. We know many schools challenge children to take photos reading in an unusual place, so we invited some children in to do just that!”

Dylan Cambell, four, wore his cat costume to read Tabby McTat to Coco the donkey in the Drusillas farmyard.Dylan Cambell, four, wore his cat costume to read Tabby McTat to Coco the donkey in the Drusillas farmyard.
Dylan Cambell, four, wore his cat costume to read Tabby McTat to Coco the donkey in the Drusillas farmyard.

Click here to see siblings recreating a childhood photograph as they take the reigns at Drusillas.

Lokking for days out and fun with the kids this year? Click here for our Ultimate Eastbourne events guide

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