How Zoos Keep Animals Cool in the Heat

How Zoos Keep Animals Cool in the Heat

Adobe Stock / Edwin Butter

This summer has seen intense heatwaves across the northern hemisphere, forcing us to search for ways to beat the heat. We also keep our pets in mind, limiting walks to the cooler parts of the day, making use of cooling vests, or staying in some good old-fashioned air conditioning. What about zoo animals, though? Here are some interesting ways zoo staff keep their animals cool.

Popsicles

We all love a cool treat on a hot day, and zoo animals are no different. They get a wide variety of popsicles, which are essentially ice containing a favorite treat. Parrots at the Nashville Zoo have frozen seeds in theirs. The Western lowland gorillas at London Zoo have been given frozen sugar-free fruit tea. Big cats, meanwhile, often get meatsicles. In a 2022 heatwave, Zoo New England shared photos of their jaguar Seymour having fun with his meaty ice block. The zoo also told NPR that they’ll sometimes put one of his favorite scents on ice to get him to rub up on it to cool down.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo says providing playful ice treats not only addresses the heat but also provides an enrichment opportunity. It causes animals to be physically active in search of food, like they would be in the wild.

 

Frozen Bottles

When we’re trying to keep ourselves or our pets cool, we may turn to frozen water bottles. For humans, placing them on our necks or heads can be refreshing. Meanwhile, wrapping the bottles up in towels and placing them next to our pets can provide relief for them. The Colchester Zoo did something like that with one of the guinea pigs in their guinea pig village, as you can see below.

Bubble Baths

Bubble baths tend to be a warm and relaxing activity for humans, but for certain animals at the Denver Zoo, they’re an extremely fun way to cool down. The resident hyenas regularly make use of bubble baths in the warmer months. On a video from the zoo’s Instagram, you can see the hyenas frolicking with excitement in the suds. They reportedly enjoy hiding items in them to enjoy later, and zoo staff helps by hiding other items they can seek out when they’re looking for some fun.

All-Star Treatment

There’s nothing like luxuriating in the glow of others keeping you cool. They may be fanning you or misting you, while you don’t have to lift a finger. Some zoo animals get this All-Star treatment, too, from fans, misting devices, or hoses. Red pandas at Potter Park Zoo in Michigan get misted on the regular. Bison at Smithsonian’s National Zoo also regularly request a hose down while their barn is being hosed, as you can see in the video below.

Pool Party

Many animals have pools in their enclosures, which serve as a great way to escape the sweltering heat. Among the animals at the Houston Zoo that have this type of space are black bears, which may take advantage of the pool by swimming or enjoying hidden treats placed there by staff. In London, a place that is decidedly cooler than Houston, the occasional heat wave can push temperatures close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit or beyond. On one such toasty stretch, the zoo shared footage of their Sumatran tiger cubs Zac and Crispin enjoying their private pool. The tiger cubs are part of a breeding program for the species, which is endangered.

Or a Shower Party?

Some people prefer to cool down with a shower, rather than a bath or a dip in the pool, and London Zoo makes sure animals with that preference get some help, too. During heat waves, the zoo also makes use of hose pipe showers, another way to make the warmth a bit more tolerable for their animals.

Spa Day

One means to cool down in nature is a good wallow in the mud. We all know pigs enjoy it, but there are plenty of other species who do, as well. Zoos will provide a muddy wonderland for animals apt to partake in this behavior. Rhinos do so in the wild, to cool down and to protect their skin from sunburn, and those in captivity retain that behavior. You can see this rhino from the Honolulu Zoo enjoying a veritable spa day in the photo below.

A/C

Though it’s best to keep your thermostat at a somewhat higher temperature in the summer - for the planet and for your bills - setting your air conditioner at a cool 70 degrees can feel pretty great after being in the heat all day. Many zoos offer air-conditioned spaces for their animals, as well, including Smithsonian’s National Zoo. It may be necessary for the species that really don’t tolerate the heat, like giant pandas, who had that option when they were at the zoo. 

Some Are Already Adapted to It

Some animals, on the other hand, don’t need all that much help staying cool, if they’re from areas that are already pretty toasty. There are a variety of natural cooling methods at use in the animal kingdom. Elephants generate their own air conditioning through ear flapping, while the big ears of African wild dogs have blood vessels close to the skin, which helps heat to dissipate. Kangaroos, meanwhile, lick their arms.

Baby elephant runs through water



You may be glad you’re not a vulture, because they pee on their legs to stay cool. Giraffes direct warmer blood vessels to their spots, which help force heat out. Meerkat bellies aren’t just cute. They’re also multifunctional. The skin on their stomachs is dark and their fur there is thin, which allows them to both soak up the warmth from the sun on their backs and to cool off by lying tummy down on a cold surface.
Michelle Milliken

Michelle has a journalism degree and has spent more than seven years working in broadcast news. She's also been known to write some silly stuff for humor websites. When she's not writing, she's probably getting lost in nature, with a fully-stocked backpack, of course.

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