A breeder cooks Laba congee for Fangfang, a female gorilla, which is rich in fruit and coarse grain. The dish was a hit with Fangfang, who only needed a few minutes to finish it up. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Animals at Hangzhou Safari Park were served customized Laba congee on Jan 20 to celebrate the Laba Festival, which has become a symbol of unity and peace in Chinese culture.

The distinctive Laba congee recipes prepared for the animals were based on their daily dietary habits, with adjustments made to the types and proportion of different fruit and vegetables to suit each animal.

"We wanted to stimulate the animals' appetites and raise their interest by changing the styles and flavors of food," said Liu Jianxun, head of the park's veterinary hospital.