Cool treats for gorillas
Friday 9 July 2010
Temperatures are soaring across the capital but ZSL London Zoo's gorillas are basking in the heat, thanks to the special ways zookeepers keep them cool.
Just like us, our group of western lowland gorillas get thirsty at this time of year and enjoy nothing more than a bottle of their favourite tipple: fruit tea.
Their keepers put this into empty plastic bottles so the gorillas can take a swig when they fancy and visitors can see how they use their hands just like humans.
Another favourite with our girls are huge fruit ice lollies. Made by filling buckets with fruit and then freezing them, these are given to various Zoo animals on really hot days.
The gorillas try to get the fruit out by standing on the blocks, biting them, licking them and even the odd kick.
This is part of ‘enrichment’ for animals, a special programme of activity designed to encourage their natural behaviour and curiosity.
The gorillas also have air conditioning inside their enclosure so they can go inside and outside into the heat as they please.
Visitors to the Zoo may be lucky enough to witness some of the hot weather enrichment activities that keepers do for the animals.
These are in addition to the regular daily planned activities - to find out more visit our What's On page .
