Animals go wild as Santa drops by to deliver presents

The Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Falconry Centre at North Anston, near Sheffield, played host to Santa Claus, along with a few of his helpers as he dropped off presents for the animals.

The centre, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, is home to creatures such as lemurs, meerkats, owls, otters and snakes, and regularly stages shows featuring free-flying birds of prey, parrots and mammals.

The centre is open this week, and a spokesman said increased security measures have been introduced in the wake of the recent outbreaks of avian influenza, or so-called bird flu, around the UK.

“Here at the Tropical Butterfly House, we are taking precautionary measures to protect the bird species in our care from the disease,” he said.

“We already have bio-security measures in place, such as foot dips and disinfecting protocols.

“We have had to change the ways the birds are fed as to not attract wild birds in the area.”

All free-roaming birds including chickens, peacocks and guineafowl are being kept indoors.