Pittsburgh Zoo helps mammals stay cool during heatwave

Western Pennsylvanians are experiencing a sweltering hot summer.

And so are most of the animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.

But thanks to beat-the-heat animal enrichment items that include frozen ice treats, air-conditioned habitats, sprinklers and water pools, mammals at the zoo are managing to keep their cool despite record-breaking high temps.

TribLive news partner WTAE’s weather forecast for the weekend has temperatures of 88 degrees today, 89 tomorrow and Sunday and 91 on Monday.

Resident polar bear Snowflake is over the heat and “not having it,” said zoo mammal curator Kelsey Forbes.

Preferring winter over summer, Snowflake has spent lots of time in her air-conditioned off-exhibit area as of late.

Ice placed in Snowflake’s floating enrichment toys helps to provide stimulation, play and a cold element.

Xia the red panda rested motionless Thursday in her outside habitat.

Red pandas are particularly sensitive to the heat.

The animals of the African Savanna, such as lions and elephants, are cool with the heat.

“Our big cats do love the warm weather,” said zoo public relations and media manager Alex Cauley.

Visitors touring the zoo on days with temps in excess of 90 degrees are likely to see fewer animals roaming around.

Zoo keepers coordinate different cooling enrichments such as water misters, shade structures and mud baths.

“A lot of our mammals — despite being from Africa or Southeast Asia — they are born here so they’re used to our environment,” Forbes said. “So we monitor them throughout the day.”

When temps soar about 85 degrees, zoo officials pay close attention to certain mammals.

“Our sloths, they are unable to self-regulate so we have to be careful with them because they can get overheated,” Forbes said.

The sloth habitat gets constant running water during a heatwave.

When temperatures exceed 95 degrees, big game cats like cheetahs receive ice treats and ice blocks.

All zoo mammals have access to an air-conditioned area when digits go over 85 degrees.

The elephant team provided cold water baths with hoses and the elephants can meander over if they wish to participate.

“A lot of our animals have sprinklers and they tolerate the heat better than us sometimes I think,” Forbes said.

Ice blocks are made into fun designs and shapes. Watermelon smashes allow the animals to smash the fruit themselves.

Tortoises chilled out Thursday in the shade next to a water sprinkler.

The gorillas enjoyed a foam water party and recently, Kai the sea lion enjoyed an ice cake for his birthday celebration.

“The entire zoo animal care team is always advocating for the animals. So we’re always trying to find new enrichment things,” Forbes said.