Record heat, even animals suffer. At the Bioparco in Rome, popsicles and dives in the pool

The grip of the Pluto anticyclone does not let go , so the zoological and veterinary staff of the Bioparco in Rome are adopting measures to help the animals cope with the very high temperatures of these days . The keepers are distributing frozen fruit popsicles made from apples, apricots and watermelon to the various species of primates, such as the emperor tamarins and the ring-tailed lemurs, accompanied by bamboo canes filled with yogurt. In addition to providing refreshment, these 'tools' are a form of environmental enrichment and allow the animals to sharpen their wits in finding food.

The three brown bears Mary, born in 2018 and the two male brothers Gianni and Sam, one year younger. They have a history of mistreatment and were welcomed at the Bioparco. Every day the plantigrades find refreshment by diving into the large pool in their area where they spend a lot of time swimming and where the zoological staff provides them with enormous fruit and fish ice lollies. The brown bears find refreshment by diving into the large pool in their area where they spend a lot of time swimming and where the zoological staff provides them with enormous fruit and fish ice lollies.

The keepers prepare fish-filled popsicles for the California sea lions. In addition to providing refreshment, they are a form of environmental enrichment and allow the animals to sharpen their wits in finding food. In general, during the summer at the Bioparco, in the space of a day, the animals consume an average of 300 kg of greens and vegetables , 150 kg of seasonal fruit, mostly watermelons and melons, and over 50 bales of hay and alfalfa. The first fundamental action is the continuous close monitoring carried out every day by the zoological staff on all the animals to detect any signs of discomfort.

Animals need first of all shade and plenty of water to drink and to be able to dive . The pool is essential, for example, for elephants to lower their body temperature and for tigers and wild dogs, who love to enter the water to cool off, the same is also true for birds.

Some species that are particularly sensitive to heat require air conditioning in the areas to keep the temperature under control, such as some amphibians, whose ambient temperature must not exceed 22 degrees. And then the California sea lions, for which we installed a water cooler in the large tank that keeps the temperature below 25 degrees. Another method for cooling the areas is irrigation, by wetting the soil.