China News Service, Chengdu, July 6th (He Meikun) Giant pandas enjoyed a special "fruit ice", ring-tailed lemurs tasted cool fruits, hippos enjoyed a watermelon feast...On the 6th, in the Chengdu Zoo, the lovely Animals enjoy their own "cool" side of the summer.
Ring-tailed lemurs taste watermelon.
Photo by Wang Lei
In order to ensure animal health and let the animals spend the summer comfortably, Chengdu Zoo has placed large ice cubes in the animal shelter to physically cool the animals.
It is reported that the staff will distribute the large ice cubes to more than 20 houses in the early morning, and then the breeders will put them in each animal house.
Each ice cube weighs 80 to 90 pounds, and about 110 pieces are transported a day.
Giant pandas taste "fruit ice".
Photo by Wang Lei
In addition, the zoo will use ice cubes and fruits to make various styles of "fruit ice" in advance. The fruit ice materials for vegetarian animals are probably apples, peanuts, vegetables, etc., while carnivores use beef blood, beef bones, chicken bones, etc. Each "fruit ice" has its own unique flavor.
Different animals will have different reactions when they receive "fruit ice". For example, after tigers receive "fruit ice", they will observe, play with, and lick these special "sorbets", which not only provide animals with food to cool off, but also enrich the food. Feeding behavior of animals.
A tiger is feeling the coolness of ice cubes.
Photo by Wang Lei
At the same time, the zoo also added spray facilities, pools, shade nets, air conditioners, electric fans and other facilities to the animal houses to enhance air circulation, reduce the temperature of the animal houses, and prevent animals from heat stroke.
For example, the giant panda house has cool air conditioners, and the mandrill house and other animal houses have added a layer of shading nets on the top, similar to "sun umbrellas", which have the functions of ventilation, cooling and sun protection.
The spraying facilities in the halls such as Xiaoluyuan have also been activated, and the sports grounds are sprayed regularly every day. Some animal houses such as tigers, bears, and elephants also have private swimming pools, where animals can take a bath and play in the water.
The hippopotamus opened its mouth wide to taste the watermelon.
Photo by Wang Lei
"In response to the high temperature in summer and the reduction of animal energy requirements, our nutritionist will also adjust the animal's feed ratio in summer, adding watermelon and some summer fruits to cool off the heat." According to Deng Hongli, director of the animal management department of Chengdu Zoo According to the introduction, the animals eat about 170 catties of watermelon every day from May to the end of October, and the breeders will regularly feed iced watermelons to hippos, bears, primates and other animals.
In addition, under the guidance of the veterinarian, they will also prepare some heatstroke prevention medicines for the animals. When the weather is hot, add water to the animals to drink, which can effectively prevent the animals from heatstroke.
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