WICHITA, Kansas, July 2, 2008 – Some of the animals at the Sedgwick County zoo are getting a lot more treats now that a local business is donating its leftover fruit.

Who knew turtles liked cantaloupe or would snarf a strawberry? Lots of reptiles are enjoying new taste sensations, compliments of the Fresh Fruit Bouquet Company.

"It was just terrible to waste all that extra, good fruit,” said Trish Jasnoski with the Fresh Fruit Bouquet Company.

It donates all the trimmings left from the many arrangements they make every day.

"Cause we cut flowers out of the pineapple so there's a little bit of meat,” Jasnoski said. "And the cantaloupe, the same way-- we do balls of cantaloupe, and there are little bits of cantaloupe and watermelon.”

So much fruit was being thrown away, the owner called the zoo and now – twice a week – tubs of leftover fruit, about 30 pounds each, are taken to the animals.

"We used to go to the store several times a week and this is saving us thousands of dollars,” said zookeeper Angi Harlan.

The fruit is used to supplement the animals’ regular diet of vegetables and some of it is frozen into giant popsicles for the elephants.

"One of the elephants smelled the pineapple and got very, very excited and almost did a little dance,” Harlan said.

As for the turtles reaction; it’s more subtle.

"They move a little bit faster,” Harlan said with a laugh. “The people love it, and the animals love it."

It’s proof positive that neither man nor beast should live without dessert.