Animals at Perth Zoo have been treated to a pre-Christmas feast that also helps test their skills, with stuffed pine cones for wallabies and watermelon wreaths for Galapogos tortoises.

Zoo staff regularly hide food so their animals have to forage and hunt for their meals.

However the year-round program has been given a festive makeover for Christmas, senior zookeeper Steve Catwell said.

"For our wallabies, we gave them some pine cones with a few little treats in there," he said.

"We're providing them with their natural plant species, and also they've got to think about how to get the treats out of the pine cone as well.

Nugget the wallaby forages for food hidden inside a pine cone. ( ABC News: Charlotte Hamlyn )

"We do it to engage the curiosity of the animals, stimulate them mentally and get them to exhibit natural behaviours.

"That puts them in a natural state which is better for their welfare."

The zoo's Galapagos tortoises, Cerro and Sierra, were treated to wreaths made from some of their favourite fruits including summery watermelon.

The South American coatis and Bolivian squirrel monkeys were given peanuts wrapped in Christmas gifts.

Mr Catwell said the enrichment techniques were not just for zoo animals, and said pets at home could benefit from a similar style of feeding.

"The stuff that we do here at the zoo you can easily use at home in your backyard with your dogs and cats," he said.

"You can freeze some treats in water and throughout the day they can be licking their ice block to get to the treats, and it keeps them cool at the same time."