With temperatures reaching a scorching 40°C today and tomorrow, zookeepers at the Antwerp Zoo are doing everything possible to keep their animals cool. For the monkeys, seals and meerkats, that means icy treats and cool showers.
Zookeepers have pulled out all the stops in the making of their ice cream treats, which are for all the animals. According to a Facebook post from the zoo, the ice cream was made from insects, red beetroot or full fruits. Not only does the ice cream cool off the animals, the zoo says, but the unique treat provides enrichment and stimulation.
The zoo's tweet reads, "Fortunately, the Antwerp zoo animals also have ice cream on the menu: with insects or delicious sprats, with beetroot or packed with fruit. It not only provides cooling but at the same time is a refreshing enrichment."
According to the animal's caregivers in a recent press release, the ice cream "allows the animals to exercise their skills and discover something new."
"The exotic animals such as zebras and rhinoceroses are used to some heat, but we provide a lot of fresh water there. Some animals get an extra shower," says spokeswoman Ilse Segers to VRT News.
Credit: Antwerp Zoo
The zoo will be open today with its normal hours of 10:00 to 19:00. Visitors are encouraged to cool off in the aquarium building or under the many trees in the zoo. The zoo reminds visitors that, unlike for the animals, ice creams are not free for humans.
The Royal Meteorological Institute recommends you stay hydrated, wear lighter clothing and eat light foods in smaller portions during the heatwave.
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For furry friends, provide shaded and cool places for them to rest, and take them for walks during the early mornings or late evenings. Make sure to provide plenty of water and, just as with the Antwerp Zoo, frozen treats are always welcome.
