Animals keeping cool at Cotswold Wildlife Park

In the current heatwave keepers at Cotswold Wildlife Park have been treating the animals under their care to some cooling enrichments.

The residents include new Ring-tailed Lemur twins, who sank their teeth into refreshing watermelon and frozen fruit ice lollies for the first time, as well as a Penguin chick who made its public debut on one of the hottest days of the year so far (much to the surprise of visitors and keepers). 

After venturing out of the nest box, it headed straight for the sprinkler before taking its first plunge into the Penguin pool. 

Chris Kibbey, Assistant Animal Manager at Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens: "‘It’s hot, hot, hot here in the Cotswolds, and keepers have to be prepared to keep themselves and the animals under their care cool. 

"As always, we ensure all animals have access to adequate shade and plenty of water, but with hot temperatures forecast, it also allows us to be a little inventive with our enrichment. 

"The lemurs were given frozen fruit popsicles made using ingredients from their normal diet – berries, pear and grapes which they enjoyed. Sometimes simply freezing an animals’ diet in an ice block provides a stimulating challenge for them, as was the case for our tapirs Gomez and Lolita, who devoured their melon, pear and banana frozen treat in no time. 

"Watermelon is a delicious summer treat and perfect for our Meerkats who use their strong claws to break through the skin before using their snout and tongue to lap up the insides. For the first time, our Ring-tailed Lemur twins, born earlier this year, enjoyed their first taste of watermelon too."

Chris added: "Who doesn’t like a cold shower on a hot day? Humboldt Penguins come from Chile and Peru where it is hot. Our British-born Penguins still appreciate a hose down when it is particularly warm. 

"Our new as-yet-unsexed and unnamed Penguin chick surprised visitors by venturing out of its nest box for the first time and enjoyed a cooling spray from the sprinkler before taking its first dip in the Penguin pool."