A zoo served mealworms stuffed in skull-shaped pumpkins to celebrate Halloween in northeast Thailand.

Staff of the Khon Kaen Zoo dressed up as ghosts as they treated the animals to the creepy snacks on October 25.

Footage shows zookeepers decked out in zombie makeup and fake blood handing out the worm-filled skull pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns to squirrel monkeys and meerkats in their enclosures. The animals were seen tucking into the wriggling grubs.

A cemetery-themed exhibition area was also set up for other upcoming Halloween activities, including seal performances, flamingo chick and lion cub viewing, a capybara parade, animal feeding, and pygymy hippo meet-and-greets.

Zoo director Tipawadee Kittikoon said: 'This activity not only adds excitement for visitors, but also aims to promote animal behaviour by allowing them to exercise and demonstrate natural instincts, reducing stress, and creating happiness for both the animals and the public.'

She added that staff were making more Halloween toys to stimulate the zoo's Asiatic black bears, lions, chimpanzees, and orangutans.

Khon Kaen Zoo in northeast Thailand is home to 'Moo Duang' - a popular pygmy hippo and relative of the internet-famous Moo Deng. It is open to tourists daily from 8 am to 4:30 pm.