Berlin - Five pellet vending machines installed in cages at the Berlin Zoo dispense treats for hungry monkeys looking for a snack, the zoo’s veterinarian Andre Schuele said.
The pellet machines come with a special challenge for which gorillas and their other ape friends need patience instead of money.
“The apes use sticks as tools to transport the pellets bit by bit to the outlet,” the vet explained.
German tabloids Bild and Berliner Zeitung first reported about the vending machines.
Zookeepers decide via an interval timer when the treats are available to the apes.
“The new thing is that, with the help of the remote control, the animals can be kept busy all day,” Schuele said.
Pellets dispensed by the machines are deducted from the animals’ daily rations, which means there is no danger the apes will gain weight, Schuele added.
DPA