It's hot - but our animals are ice cool
Wednesday 1 July 2009
Temperatures may be soaring but ZSL London Zoo's animals are enjoying the heatwave, thanks to super-sized fruit ice lollies.
© ZSL - James Godwin
Special ice lollies, made in buckets and filled with fruit, are given to the gorillas and other animals on really hot days.
The gorillas try to get the fruit out by standing on the blocks, as well as kicking and biting them.
This is part of the gorillas’ ‘enrichment’, a special programme of activity designed to encourage their natural behaviour and curiosity.
The gorilla group also have air conditioning inside their enclosure so they can go inside and outside into the heat as they please.
Other animals around the Zoo also get special treatment during hot weather like this, such as a nice cooling shower.
Keepers have been busy hosing down animals such as the alpacas and bearded pigs - ensuring that they don’t get too hot.
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
