Shoushan Zoo Hosts New Year's Eve Party: Snake-eating Turtles Unfazed by "Green Snake"

This year, the Kaohsiung Shoushan Zoo in Taiwan is welcoming the Year of the Snake with a unique twist. The zoo has created cucumber-shaped green snakes made from fresh vegetables to celebrate the occasion. Initially intended as a treat for the snake-eating turtles, these creations surprisingly did not entice them, highlighting the turtles' characteristic of not eating snakes.

In addition to the cucumber snakes, the zoo has transformed firecrackers and Mahjong tiles into feeding toys for various animals, including meerkats, Bengal tigers, and African lions, allowing both adults and children to enjoy the festive atmosphere together.

Every year during the Lunar New Year, Shoushan Zoo prepares special dishes for its animals. This year’s culinary highlight includes cucumber snakes crafted with expert knife skills. Although designed for the snake-eating turtles, they remained uninterested, reaffirming their dietary preferences. Other festive offerings include pineapple-shaped fruit bowls resembling parrots, lobster-shaped pizzas, hamburgers, and apple fries. While animals typically hesitate at first sight of these artistic foods, they eventually succumbed to temptation and devoured them all.

To further celebrate the Lunar New Year, decorations such as spring couplets and festive firecracker strings have been placed in the meerkat exhibit. The firecracker tubes have been modified with holes to allow mealworms to be placed inside, creating a fun dining experience for the meerkats as they shake the strings to enjoy their worm feast.

Additionally, "Little Red," a Bengal tiger at the zoo, has a bouncy rope firecracker that contains dried hay, cat grass, and catnip—similar to a popular cat toy known as a "fishing rod." This allows the zoo's animals to partake in the celebratory spirit during the New Year festivities.

The Shoushan Zoo is offering free admission for children under 12 from January 25 to February 2. Special events such as "Snakes Come to Shoushan to Celebrate Spring" will take place from January 29 to February 2. Visitors who present photos taken at "2025 Kaohsiung Wonderland" at Love River Bay can receive limited-edition entrance gifts.