A life-sized PEZ dispenser was no match for a resident tiger at the San Antonio Zoo.
Earlier this week, the San Antonio Zoo posted a video of a recent gift the organization presented to an animal on site. In the video, the resident tiger, officially known as Ja’Malle, was given a giant PEZ dispenser festooned with what appeared to be lifesize cardboard candy tablets. Flat Pack Gift Boxes
"Ja’Malle the tiger went absolutely wild for her giant PEZ dispenser!" the San Antonio Zoo said in the Facebook post.
In mere moments, the tiger destroys the makeshift PEZ dispenser and plays with the remaining cardboard carnage. Apparently, even big cats, similar to their comparatively pint-sized domesticated household relatives, love a good box.
"Our Animal Care Specialists created some Halloween fun for The Royal Ja’Malle, one of the Sumatran tigers at San Antonio Zoo," a zoo spokesperson explained via email. "Like most cats, Ja’Malle LOVES playing with boxes, so she thoroughly enjoyed it!"
Additionally, the spokesperson said that "enrichment is critical to keeping the animals in our care happy, healthy, and active," adding that such enrichment could include anything that "encourages natural behaviors" and comes in many forms ranging from scents to rearranging the animal's habitat.
As for the construction of the giant PEZ dispenser, the spokesperson said the item was made with cardboard boxes and painted with non-toxic "animal-safe tempura paint" with meat "hidden" inside the individual boxes for the tiger to find.
As of Thursday morning, the post had received more than 3,800 reactions including likes and loves, with nearly 200 shares and dozens of comments.
"Doesn't matter the size, cats love boxes!" wrote one commenter.
"Cats and boxes. Lol no matter how big or small," wrote another person.
Collapsible Gift Boxes R. Dallon Adams is an audience development producer for the Houston Chronicle.