Heat wave loads Thuringian Zoos: Animals are definitely looking for shadows!
Heat wave loads Thuringian Zoos: Animals are definitely looking for shadows!
Gera, Deutschland - When the temperatures rise and the sun burns mercilessly, we know immediately: it is time to cool down. This applies not only to us humans, but also to the animal residents in zoos and zoo. The animals in the Thuringian Zoo and Zoo in Gera are currently suffering from extreme heat. Those responsible have provided a little relief to the animals on these hot days. So ice bombs with frozen vegetable and fruit pieces are offered for the monkeys, while mud baths for the pigs and shady places are provided for the bison. The animals also have free access to shady, cooler places, which is very important to avoid heat stress. For the protection of visitors, the Berberaffe enclosure is closed today at 3:30 p.m.
Despite these challenges, it can be observed that the number of visitors on hot days are rather moderate because many are looking for cooling. The zoo in Gera therefore offers a heat bonus of one euro estate per ticket as soon as the temperatures reach 30 degrees. In these times, special care is taken to ensure that the animals are supplied with refreshing green fodder and sufficient fresh water. However, the situation in Gera is not unique; Zoos also fight with similar challenges in other European countries.
challenges in other regions
such as in Switzerland, where the summer record temperatures regularly reach daily values above 35 degrees. The zoos in Zurich, Goldingen, Basel, Bern and La Chaux-de-Fonds have taken a wide range of measures to ensure both the well-being of the animals and the comfort of the visitors. Extended shadow areas, moisture -regulating soils and additional water sources are just a few of the strategies that help relieve heat stress. Particular attention is paid to the cold climatic animals such as snow leopards and penguins that suffer especially from the heat.
In addition, it has been shown that animals have to adapt their activity to the heat. Twilight -active animals can easily get out of their natural rhythm due to the heat behavior of the visitors. In order to counteract this, many zoos recommend visiting the system in the cooler morning hours when the temperatures are even more moderate and the animals appear more active.
heat stress - a serious topic
As research shows, heat stress is not only a problem in zoos. Even in farm animals, such as dairy cows, the increasing ambient temperature can have great health effects. The Federal Office of Agriculture in Switzerland is working on projects to recognize and avoid heat stress at various animal species. It is placed on behavioral characteristics that indicate the beginning of heat stress on how less is located and persistent proximity to water drinks or shady spots.
The knowledge from these research could ultimately also benefit the zoos and help to protect the animals in their quality of life. At a time when heat waves have become normal for many regions, it is all the more important that both zoo and private animal -keeping measures take suitable measures to enable animals to have a tolerable life.
The situation clearly shows that you have to have a good knack for animal care, especially in these hot months. It is time to offer the animals the deserved cooling and shadow and at the same time make their own experiences in the zoo pleasant. The various approaches in Germany and Switzerland are promising and could serve as a model for future measures.
thueringen.de reports that ...
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| Ort | Gera, Deutschland |
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