Prague zoo keeps polar bears cool with ice cubes as European summer heatwave hits
PRAGUE (AP) — Keepers at Prague Zoo used tons of ice on Thursday to give its animals some much-needed relief as yet another heat wave hit Europe. Polar bears Aleut and Gregor wasted no time and were rolling in the beds of ice cubes after entering their outside enclosure. The twins looked to have fun with the […]
Prague Zoo utilized a substantial amount of ice to provide relief to its inhabitants during a recent heatwave that swept across Europe. The polar bears, Aleut and Gregor, eagerly indulged in the ice cubes, playfully rolling around in their designated areas as temperatures were predicted to reach an alarming 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
According to Filip Mašek, the zoo's spokesperson, the ice serves a dual purpose of keeping the bears cool and offering an enriching experience for them. The zoo had started providing ice to certain animals in response to climate change and the growing frequency of extreme temperatures. The polar bears, born in Nuremberg, Germany 16 years ago, have grown accustomed to the European climate and seemed to enjoy the ice the most.
The plan was to order ice for the animals for the traditionally hottest months, July and August, but the first heatwave of the year struck early on June 28, setting the Czech Republic's all-time high temperature at 41.9 C (107.4 F). Mašek expressed surprise at the weather's unpredictability, stating that the zoo will be better prepared next year.
Other animals that have benefited from the ice provision in recent years include otters, elephants, and parrots. The zoo has noted that not all animals are accustomed to the heat.
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