December 23, 2008 Zoo in Australia celebrates Christmas early Play video

(NECN/ABC) - Christmas came early in the animal kingdom at Taronga Park zoo in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday.

Some of the zoo's most famous residents awoke to some very merry treats.

The excitement was clearly too much for some, although zoo workers insist the lioness with her head in a paper bag was hungry or curious but not camera-shy.

For the meerkats it was a big event.

Even when one managed to get into a package but not out of it, until zoo staff went to help.

Mary the Gibbon, at 50 years old, had seen it all before and could barely be coaxed to ground-level for her Christmas goodies.

But she finally accepted her gifts and went back to the peace and quiet of her tree to enjoy the treats.