Prague Zoo provided ice cream and large quantities of ice to polar bears and gorillas to help them cope with a summer heatwave.
The measures are critical for animal welfare as extreme temperatures can cause heat stress in species naturally adapted to colder climates or specific humidity levels. Maintaining a stable body temperature is essential to prevent health crises during prolonged thermal peaks.
The zoo's polar bear twins, Aleut and Gregor, were given ice cream made with fruit sweeteners, apples, carrots, mackerel, and salmon [1]. To further combat the heat, the facility provided the bears with up to three tonnes of ice on hot days [1] to roll in and cool their skin.
The cooling efforts extended to other residents of the Prague Zoo. The gorillas were given ice cream sweetened with fruit, which staff suspended on a rope for the animals to nibble on [1]. These enrichment activities serve a dual purpose by providing mental stimulation while lowering the animals' internal temperatures.
These interventions occurred during a second summer heatwave in the Czech Republic. During this period, national temperatures reached a near-record 41.5 °C [1]. The extreme heat prompted the zoo to implement these cooling strategies to ensure the animals remained comfortable and safe.
Staff monitored the animals closely as they interacted with the ice and frozen treats. The use of fish and vegetables in the polar bears' ice cream ensures the treats provide nutritional value alongside cooling properties [1].
“National temperatures reached a near-record 41.5 °C”
The use of dietary and environmental cooling interventions at the Prague Zoo highlights the increasing challenge zoological gardens face in managing animal health amidst rising global temperatures. As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, zoos must rely on resource-heavy strategies, such as the delivery of tonnes of ice, to simulate natural cooling environments and prevent heat-related mortality in non-native species.
