A ZOO park in the Vale is going to extra lengths to make sure the critters in its care keep cool during the extra hot weather.
All Things Wild in Honeybourne is home to about 400 animals from around the world including zebras, monkeys, donkeys, reptiles and birds.
This includes many endangered and near endangered creatures including those classed as ‘critical’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species such as the red ruffed lemur from Madagascar.
Animal manager Matt Parker said that their enclosures are carefully designed to include plenty of shaded areas and fresh water dishes or a pool for bathing was vital in addition to drinking water.
“If an animal wants to avoid the sun there are plenty of places to seek shelter. Most species have a pool where they can escape the heat. Our bush dogs love to go swimming,” he said.
Bactian camel brothers Julius and Jerry from Mongolia are particularly partial to frozen ‘ice lolly’ watermelon snack.
These seven-year-olds are domesticated but in the wild they are ‘critically endangered’ and would live in the Gobi desert.
“Enrichments are a great way to keep them cool. We always have a freezer full of nice cold treats for both our herbivorous animals and carnivores.
“We have them set aside as we never know when it’s suddenly going to go into a heat wave,” Matt said.
The treats usually get incorporated into their regular diet but animals get the occasional additional tidbit. He said the camels really enjoyed their sugary, watery treat.
“They wouldn’t do it very often, so it’s a nice, special thing for them,” he said.
The park was given a delivery of watermelons that weren’t going to be used so staff froze half of them.
“Keeping the keepers hands off the watermelon is just as time-consuming as giving the animals it,” he added.
