Beat the Heat

The zoo provides deep water for species that enjoy swimming, like resident tiger Kadar. PALM BEACH ZOO & CONSERVATION SOCIETY / COURTESY PHOTOS

When it comes to surviving these brutal South Florida days, the animal care team at Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society Palm Beach Zoo make sure their animals have everything they need to enjoy the summer.

“Our Zoologists constantly monitor the well-being of our animals and use their close relationships with each species to keep them cool, “ says Kelly Fad, General Curator at the zoo.

But the animals will use a lot of the same tactics that we do to keep cool.

They will typically find the shaded spots, avoid too much activity in the heat of the day, and drink extra water.

“If they decide they want to cool off, our habitats at the Zoo provide lots of natural shade and water features for swimming,” says Fad.

Some of the more common animal behaviors include digging down into the soil to find a cooler surface to lay in or wading in pools of water to help their bodies regulate their temperature.

“Our animals are native to warm or tropical climates. The heat is natural for them and the daily rain showers in South Florida help provide additional relief from the sun,” adds Fad.

ABOVE: The zoo recently has an industrial-sized ice machine to provide huge ice piles for Lewis the bear. LEFT: A great way to beat the heat for a Lorikeet is a refreshing misting.

Most of the animal habitats have large water features, so the animals can both drink and swim in. Some lucky ones even get large waterfalls.

And no matter if there are droughtlike conditions around Palm Beach County, the zoo constantly provides deep water for species that enjoy swimming, such as otters, tigers and bears.

Many of the Zoo’s bird enjoy the rain. And when it’s not raining , no problem! Animal carers give them sprinker showers, hose baths and mistings. The lorikeets and Macaws especially love a good misting.

“We are creating awe-inspiring moments here at Palm Beach Zoo. It’s really unexpected to see an Aldabra tortoise getting a shower, a tiger chewing on a frozen bone, a panther playing with an ice block, or a bear rolling around on a man-made mountain of ice,” says Mike Terrell, Curator of Animal Experiences.

One of our everyone’s favorite ways to help the animals beat that heat is to provide ice pops and ice cubes.

The zoo recently received an industrial sized ice machine, that works full-time to provide huge ice piles for bears, Lewis and Clark, to roll around in.

These lucky bears also get large tubs of ice and frozen fruit juices that are like giant ice pops.

“It’s really engaging and fun for guests, but it’s also a treat for the animals,” Terell adds. You have to come see it for yourself.”

LEFT: Animals like this tapir, wade in pools of water to help regulate their body temperature.

ABOVE RIGHT: A lucky otter enjoys a dip in the cool water.

RIGHT: Bear residents Lewis and Clark enjoy fresh fruit juice ice pops.

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