Barcelona Zoo struggles to combat the high temperatures. And one of the strategies to do so is to offer the animals ice cream to mitigate the heat.
They now receive fruit, worm, larvae or broth ice cream. They are also renovating the watering troughs and are allowed free access to shaded areas.
According to Antoni Alarcón, director of the Barcelona Zoo, these measures seek to guarantee the health and welfare of the animals.
In fact, when it is warmer at the Zoo, the animals are allowed free access to their sleeping quarters.
They also have plenty of fresh water at the watering troughs and dining areas.
Ice cream to mitigate the heat
During these months, the caretakers give the animals food support with ice. The food is frozen, so they not only feed but also hydrate themselves by licking and sucking on the ice.
At the Zoo, frozen food is being given to them depending on the function of the animal, between one and five times a day.
For example, otters are given tortilla ice cream twice a day.
In addition, the facilities where the animals live are permanently cooled during the day with sprinklers and water hoses. Elephants enjoy being showered.
Those that suffer the most from the increase in temperature are animals from colder climates such as the red panda or the European mink.
When the Zoo knows there will be heat waves, they have coolers where ice cream is made daily.
