Christmas came early to Marshfield Wildwood Zoo over the weekend as children and parents watched mountain lions, a lynx and wolves tear open presents.

"The gifts are a few pieces of meat," said Heather McBride, a zoo volunteer, as she wrapped three large shoebox-size containers with brightly colored holiday paper before the gift-giving Saturday morning.

Planned as an enrichment activity for the animals, the event also is a way for people to have fun and learn more about the zoo's wildlife, said McBride, a member of the Marshfield Zoological Society.

About 30 children and parents gathered at the viewing area for the mountain lions -- also called cougars -- to watch Thunder and Star tear into their Christmas gift. After the gift was placed in their enclosure, the door to the viewing area opened and the two cougars leaped into the enclosure and pounced on the box.

In seconds, the lions had torn open the box and were contentedly lying on the ground to gnaw on chunks of venison.

"Oh! They're fast," said Aaliyah Nelson, 4, of Marshfield as she watched the felines swiftly tear the paper off the box.

The enrichment activity simulates how the animal would eat their prey in the wild, said Steve Burns, zookeeper.