Zoo keeps animals cool with mudbaths and treats

As temperatures soar this summer, Jersey Zoo is using everything from mud baths to frozen treats to help its animals stay cool, staff say.

Georgia Gotts, deputy curator of mammals, said animals could choose whether to seek shade, spend time indoors or enjoy the sunshine.

So, for the zoo's Visayan warty pigs, Gotts said keepers made sure their wallow stayed topped up so they could cool off and cover themselves in mud, which acted as a protective layer from the sun.

Keepers have also been serving up frozen versions of the pigs' usual meals. Root vegetables and berries are frozen into ice moulds as a cooling treat and a form of enrichment.

Capybaras would likely spend much of the day in the water, she said, while lemurs often basked in the morning sunshine before seeking cooler spots later in the day.

The zoo had systems in place to regulate temperatures, including air conditioning, fans and thermostat-controlled buildings.

She said: "We're very lucky here that we have everything that we need and require to look after the animals during extreme heat."

The zoo was also keeping a close eye on its staff, with water, sun cream and regular hydration breaks to help keepers cope during the hot spell, bosses said.

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