Abilene Zoo deploys unique methods to help animals beat the heat

ABILENE, TX ( KTAB/KRBC ) – The Abilene Zoo is taking special care this summer to help their animals with the rising temperatures to ensure their safety.

The summer heat can not only be hard on us, but it poses a risk for animals as well. That is why the Abilene Zoo is taking some innovative steps to ensure that their animals are protected from dangerous temperatures. The safety and comfort of the animals at the zoo s a top priority for their caregivers and one of the methods they use to regulate the body heat of some of the animals seems pretty traditional.

“Lemurs get things like Pedialyte pops to keep them hydrated.”, said Zookeeper Sydney Hudson and described another unique method they use to keep the Madagascar native Lemurs cool saying, “They also get these marble slabs. Those will stay in the freezer for a day or two, and then I will stick them out there. Sometimes I sprinkle some treats on it so that they are more inclined to go lay on them.”

There are many animals here at the Abilene Zoo that are actually quite used to this weather. For example, their Black Rhino, Uhuru, traditionally lives on the African savanna and grasslands where temperatures can reach similar conditions as it does here in West Texas. However, that doesn’t mean that the Abilene Zoo doesn’t offer them some heat relief whenever the temperatures get into the triple digits.

“For our rhino, we do mud wallows because in the wild they like to wallow to help keep their body cool,” said Zookeeper Meredith Haney.

Haney is the keeper for much of the African section of the zoo and describes how they have created many methods of ensuring their animals comfort during these scorching days.

“We also have what we call temperature guidelines. So, when it gets to a certain degree, we let our animals have access to their barns and they have the ability to choose whether or not they want to be inside or outside,” Haney says.

Possibly one of the most interesting methods for thermal regulation occur in their Lion habitat where, just like people, they enjoy a nice cool popsicle. However, these popsicles probably aren’t something you would find in your freezer.

“So, we collect the blood that comes out of their bones or their meat, and then we freeze it and add water and make blood popsicles out of it,” said Zookeeper Haney when describing this non-traditional treat.

The Abilene Zoo is also combating the summer heat by offering earlier hours to guests. Now guests can visit the Abilene Zoo when their doors open for their summer hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. where they will also be offering bagels and iced coffee to guests for their early morning visits.

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