Tried methods are used to overcome summer heat in Feldman Ecopark – special diet and hydrotherapeutic procedures. Refreshing shower two or three times a day, as well as a constant access to drinking water is a must for almost all animals here. Moreover, nutrition of many of them becomes dietary – less caloric and less heavy for their stomach. But the most popular dishes in the heat are cooled or frozen treats.
“Like in the majority of zoos, we mainly use stationary pools for animals and periodic showers from garden hoses. We are trying to fill the pools with clean water at least once a week. In some enclosures, we have installed a special hydrocooling system – hoses with many small holes, through which the water is sprayed under a big pressure. Bears, hyenas and almost all big feline predators, as well as primates are the biggest fans of hydrotherapeutic procedures – it is an additional entertainment for them,” they tell in Feldman Ecopark. “Ice cream is considered an especially desirable treat in the heat – animals also prefer it, while for some of them it is even necessary for additional heat regulation. We are cooking a special ice cream for our animals – ice with fruits and berries for primates, and ice with meat and fish for predators.”
It should be noted that exotic residents of southern countries (and there are a lot of them in the animal collection of Feldman Ecopark) are enjoying this hot weather. African spurred tortoises are among them. They are now able to spend almost the whole day in their African enclosure. For these natives of semideserts to the south of Sahara our current temperatures are almost ideal.
It should be reminded that the animal collection of Feldman Ecopark consists of 2,000 animals of more than 300 species.
