As Europe bakes, Berlin Zoo’s elephants and bears cool off with ice treats and water sprays
Berlin Zoo is helping its animals beat the heat with frozen treats and water sprays as an unusual heatwave sweeps across much of Europe.
Berlin Zoo adapts animal care during European heatwave
Berlin Zoo has implemented special measures to help its animals cope with the unusually hot weather affecting large parts of Europe. Brown bears received large frozen treats filled with fish, fruit and vegetables, while elephants cooled off with water sprays and showers from keepers.
Keepers threw frozen blocks, known as "ice bombs", into the bears' enclosure, encouraging the animals to enter the water and search for food hidden inside the ice. Zoo spokesperson Hanja Runge said the treats helped keep the bears active while providing relief from the heat.
Nearby, elephants gathered around a hosepipe and played under streams of water, spraying themselves and drinking as they cooled down. Although elephants originate from hot regions in Africa and Asia, they still need access to water, shade and mud to regulate their body temperature, particularly in hot weather.
Berlin Zoo regularly adapts animal care during warm periods, but the current conditions have increased the focus on hydration, shade and enrichment activities designed to reduce heat stress. Forecasters have warned that temperatures could rise further over the weekend.
