Zoos around the country are taking a number of steps to help animals beat the heat this summer.
Eric Gay / AP
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Eric Gay / AP
Zoos around the country are taking a number of steps to help animals beat the heat this summer.
Eric Gay / AP
As many parts of the United States deal with extreme heat this summer, zoos around the country are taking various steps to minimize its impact on their animals.
Pete Costello, assistant curator at the Stone Zoo in New England, told NPR: “It’s been a 99-degree day, our job has become challenging for animals accustomed to living in cold environments to keep their cool. keep them cool.”
The zoo is about 12 miles north of Boston, where record heat is scorching the city. Into the second heat wave of the summer, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced heat emergency beginning of this week until Sunday.
Stone Zoo is trying to limit the effects of these dangerous temperatures, especially on animals accustomed to colder weather, such as snow leopards.
“What we do with the snow leopards in that situation is they have a building built next to their exhibit, and that building is air-conditioned,” says Costello.
According to Costello, fans are one of the easiest ways for the zoo’s reindeer, who are used to living near the Arctic Circle, to cool off.
Ice blocks and lakes help animals stay cool
The pools have also helped some animals. Stone Zoo will refill the pool every morning for the animals to ensure it is at least 10-15 degrees colder than the water there overnight. The zoo will also water them or spray them with water.
He added: “We would pour out the tubs and fill them with water, sometimes putting ice in them all day.
Costello says ice is a quick way to cool down animals. Seymour, the zoo’s jaguar, enjoyed an ice cube filled with meat earlier this week.
“You could just take a little bit of his rations, usually just some meat, and you freeze it in a 5-gallon bucket overnight, and then in the morning, you just put it in the tank. his,” he said.
Stone Zoo also gives Seymour ice cubes sprinkled with some of his favorite scents – pumpkin pie spice is his favorite right now.
“So you can… just get a bag of regular ice cubes, pour them on the ground and then put the pumpkin pie seasoning on it, which he’ll rub and stuff into it to help him lower it.” heat,” he said.
The animals also have shelter, placed in a sunny location.
“The reindeer shelter is positioned in such a way that when strong afternoon sunlight hits, the shelter is completely shaded,” says Costello.
The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, is also addressing the issue of extreme heat for the animals.
“Most animals that can go outdoors are offered year-round options – go outside or stay in their exhibit. Most indoor exhibits are AC-cooled in the summer and heated. warm in winter”, according to a statement from July 25th.
The Smithsonian also said their giant pandas have air conditioning and water-cooled caves, and spend most of their hot days inside because their thick fur makes the heat unbearable.
The zoo also fills ice floes with fruit inside for a cool summer treat.
“Many animals are offered fruit for refreshment, which can be especially refreshing at this time of year,” Smithsonian said.
“Fruits are popsicles – they’re usually diluted fruit juice frozen with small pieces of fresh fruit in it. Gorillas, elephants and other bears also enjoy these treats,” the statement reads. For more, explain that the animals enjoy these foods all year round.
The zoo also says some animals can make use of their outdoor pool, such as Andean bears, raccoons, lions, tigers and otters.
