With temperatures climbing across the UK this week and some regions expected to reach as high as 39°C, staff at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm are taking extra steps to keep their animals safe and comfortable during the heatwave.
The North Somerset zoo and conservation charity has introduced a variety of cooling methods and enrichment activities to help its residents cope with the intense heat.
Across the zoo, animals are finding different ways to stay cool. Elephants are enjoying refreshing sprays from hoses, while gibbons are being treated to homemade ice lollies. Otters, capybaras and Aqua the rescue tiger are cooling off by splashing in their pools.
Chris Wilkinson, curator at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, explained that animal welfare is the team’s top priority during extreme weather.
He said that, just like people, animals need ways to stay cool when temperatures rise. Keepers carefully watch each species throughout hot days and provide cooling options such as frozen treats, hose-downs, pools and shaded areas.
The zoo’s African elephants and Southern white rhinos also have access to mud wallows, which help them naturally regulate their body temperature in warm conditions.
Throughout the zoo, habitats include shaded spaces so animals can choose where they feel most comfortable as the day heats up.
Thanks to the efforts of the keepers, the animals are not only staying safe during the heatwave — they’re also enjoying some fun and refreshing ways to beat the heat.