During a stretch of hot weather, the big cats at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park were given a special frozen treat to help them stay cool: blood-flavored ice lollies.
The wildlife park, located near Friskney, cares for several large cats, including Bengal tigers, a white lion, a leopard and a white tiger named Aleks. According to chief executive Steve Nichols, animals like tigers especially need ways to cool down during warm days, whether through shade, water or cooling enrichment.
The park prepared large frozen treats made with blood and minced liver. As the cats lick the icy blocks, the treats help lower their body temperature while also giving them something interesting to enjoy.
One of the cats receiving the cooling treats is Aleks, a white tiger who arrived at the park in February after being rescued from war-torn Ukraine. Although he has been settling into his new home, staff say he has not yet learned how to use his pool.
Unlike the park’s other tigers, who already know they can cool off by lying in water, Aleks seems unfamiliar with the idea. Nichols said Aleks had likely only known water as something to drink, not something to swim or rest in.
To help him adjust, staff have made the pool easier for him to understand by ensuring he can see the bottom and step in safely. For now, though, Aleks appears more interested in playing with cardboard than taking a dip.
The park also uses other cooling systems for its animals. For example, the parrots have sprinkler systems that turn on when temperatures rise above 27 degrees Celsius.
Aleks has made a lot of progress since arriving at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park. He was found in June 2024 in a residential back garden in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region by military volunteers searching bombed-out areas. At the time, he was dehydrated, exhausted and infested with parasites.
After a long legal process and a three-day journey of about 1,600 miles, Aleks finally arrived at the park on February 28.
At first, he stayed in an indoor enclosure with a sleeping area, playroom and feeding room. Staff slowly introduced him to the outdoor space so he could get used to the calm surroundings and fresh air.
Now, Aleks is beginning to engage with his environment and form bonds. He has started socializing with the other tigers, which staff see as a major milestone, and he has also built a close connection with Nichols.
The team hopes that, with time, Aleks will learn to enjoy his pool like the other tigers. Until then, frozen blood lollies, shade and patient care are helping him stay cool and comfortable in his new life.