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Pumpkins a roaring success at Norfolk zoo

It's the season for all things pumpkin, whether that's a hearty orange soup or a warm pumpkin-spiced drink.

But it's not just humans enjoying the autumnal snack.

Animals at Banham Zoo, in Norfolk, have been having gourd fun getting their paws and claws on loads of pumpkins.

The zoo says the pumpkins provides mental and physical stimulation for the animals - particularly because of their unusual shape, scent and texture.

Stick insect is walking on the top of a carved orange pumpkin placed on the ground with a blurred background.Zoological Society of East Anglia

Stacey the stick insect crawled right on her spooky treat!

A rat is crawling out of a carved pumpkin with a spooky face that's placed on a table, with twinkly lights behind itZoological Society of East Anglia

Oh rats, there's no food in here at all!

The pumpkins have been given to the animals in lots of different ways, to encourage play and problem solving.

Some have been hollowed out and filled with tasty treats, rolled into habitats as a challenge or given to the animals whole to see how they'd react.

A fuzzy, grey Chilean flamingo chick, is lead next to a tiny pumpkin on the sandy ground.Zoological Society of East Anglia

Jalapeño, a Chilean Flamingo chick, seems to love her pumpkin!

A snow leopard is in front of grey rocks with a carved pumpkin in front of it. Zoological Society of East Anglia

Deborah Harris, the Animal Manager at Banham Zoo, says her favourite thing to do is watch "the tiger play in the pond with the pumpkins".

It certainly gives the visitors 'pumpkin' 'gourd' to talk about too!