It’s snow miracle: zookeepers in Phoenix surprise animals with icy wonderland

Dozens of animals at the Phoenix zoo in Arizona, where scorching summer heatwaves are the norm, got a delightful surprise: their first snow of the season.

Zoo staff and others transformed more than 500 bags of ice into snowflakes, creating a winter wonderland for the animals on Friday.

From tortoises to Chutti the greater one-horned rhino, Indu the Asian elephant, African painted dogs, cheetahs, leopards, tigers and primates, the zoo’s residents explored and played in their snowy habitats.

While some animals, like Indu and Chutti, playfully interacted with the snow, others were more hesitant, taking their time to adjust.

“It just stimulates their senses in ways they wouldn’t experience every day,” said Linda Hardwick, vice-president of marketing, communications and events at the zoo. “The day is special every summer because even if an animal isn’t going to play in it, it definitely sparks curiosity.”

A giant truck with 10 tons of ice arrived, and the cubes were fed into a snow machine, which churned out snow into several carts. Zookeepers then scattered the snow across the 61-year-old zoo’s habitats, creating a frosty playground for the animals.

“Everything was positive, and I think the animals loved it,” said Todd Mather, an owner of Mather Bros, an ice company that supported the snow event.

Zookeepers entered the habitats through side gates to spread snow and place treats while the animals were in their night houses.

Once the animals ventured out, they found frozen fish-sicles for the tigers, blood-sicles for the African painted dogs, meat-filled hollowed watermelons for the leopards and hyenas, and a 20-gallon ice treat packed with electrolyte-flavored drink and frozen fruits for Indu the elephant.

The orangutans also indulged in a frozen electrolyte drink mix and various fruits.

Families in Phoenix flocked to the zoo to witness the snowy event.

“It’s really fun to see our guests experience something new,” Hardwick said. “They don’t usually see snow in Arizona, especially not in the summer.”

The zoo, which attracts about 1.3 million visitors annually, emphasized its reduced hours from June to August to prevent heat-related problems. They focus on keeping animals suited to hotter climates, steering clear of polar bears and certain penguins.