Beastly treats at the zoo for Halloween

Meet and Eat sessions at Lakeland Wildlife Oasis in Milnthorpe will offer up the chance for people to snack on delicacies like crickets, locusts, right, and worms this weekend.

The unusual treats, served up in the animal charity’s cafeteria, are part of celebrations that will also see the zoo open late into the evening tonight to showcase how differently the animals behave at night.

Zoo boss Jo Marsden said: “We had evening handling sessions last Halloween and they were really popular.

“Nocturnal animals like bats behave very differently when it’s dark and so do many of the insects, things like scorpions.

“While we’re having the handling sessions we thought it would be an interesting idea to let people try some of the food on offer.”

The menu will vary but is likely to include crickets, mapami worms, locusts and mealworms.

They’re all perfectly safe to eat and zoo staff have been trying them out.

Jo said: “There are restaurants now where you can buy things like that, so if people come to the handling sessions and they want to try some then they can do.

“I’m a vegetarian but I still had to find out what some of it was like.”

If snacking on jungle food does not appeal there’s still plenty to do at the Milnthorpe attraction.

The zoo’s beautiful snow leopard twin cubs, Loki and Luna, below left, are now five months old and full of fun.

And with reptiles and exotic insects all indoors, Oasis is an all-weather family destination.

With families in mind, the Friday night Halloween event, complete with zombie keepers and fizzy blood, is split into two sessions, 5.30pm-to-7.30pm for younger children and 8pm-to-10pm for adults.

Jo said: “For the children it’s things like turnip lantern making and a torchlit tour of the zoo. We want to make sure they all enjoy it.

“The later session will be a bit more scary, with a few surprises.”

Call 015395 63027 for more information on the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis or visit wildlifeoasis.co.uk/