But this spring is special for them as it begins with receiving presents from the organizers of the charity project called “toys for monkey and bears”.

According to Moscow Zoo Director Anatoly Aleksandrov, “volunteers of all ages are rushing to donate toys to one of the living symbols of Russia – the big brown bear.”

Zoo workers say that objects made of plastic, wood or rubber are much needed.

In the wild, bears struggle to get food. Here in cages, they are simply fed. So these toys are needed to simulate the process of finding food. They tear the toys apart and inside them they find honey and fruit.

On the other hand, primates prefer car tires and clothing as gifts. The project managed to collect blankets and towels with which orangutans like to cover themselves.

However, some donors chose to give slightly more sophisticated presents to the zoo residents.

Savely Arkhipenko, a participant of the charity project, says “I brought a special coat for the orangutans. It is made by a Japanese designer Yoshi Yamamoto. I gave it to the monkeys because I wanted my contribution to the project to be symbolic as the Japanese care like no others about animals.”

It's hard to say whether the monkeys will be able to distinguish the designer outfit from the rest. But as long as it makes both the donors and the animals happy, it works out well.