ANIMALS at Melbourne Zoo love Christmas.

Festive games and presents were among the surprises for the animal residents this week.

Keepers treated orang-utan Malu with a present full of dried fruit and nuts that he swung around before opening it.

Hutan the Sumatran tiger was a bit of a scrooge, watching on while his brother Aceh ripped open both their Christmas presents to devour the chickens inside.

It was the first Christmas present for the meerkat babies, who are now 13 weeks and needed a little help from the keepers to open the crackers that were almost as big as them.

Zoo spokeswoman Judith Henke said the animals loved a festive feast.

"Food treats is definitely what they like best,'' she said.

"When the babies are little they like toys, but the adults are just interested in food.

"It is just like a normal Christmas really.''