Zoo residents use nature’s instinct to stay cool
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With triple-digit temperatures around Central Texas, the staff at the Cameron Park Zoo is working hard to help its residents beat the summer heat.
The animals are given ice and special frozen treats to keep them from overheating. Some, like K-J the Orangutan, made quite a splash in front of the sprinkler Wednesday afternoon, getting some much needed relief from the heat.
Zoo visitors say for humans, staying cool outdoors comes with preparation.
"I think we have about three gallons of water with us,” visitor Christine Bailey said. “We have a spray mister to keep us cool and we try to find shade when we can."
As visitors discovered, animals were also looking for a shady spot wherever they could find it.
"Several of the animals were not in their normal habitat,” Bailey said. “They were either indoors, and there were several that we did not see at all. A lot of them were in water or have been standing in the shade like us."
According to Animal Care Manager Manda Butler, animals instinctively seek relief from the scorching sun.
"A lot of times you'll see that they just seem a little stressed or they're tired,” Butler said. “That's why we try to give them access into the barn and that way with the cement, the cement will be a little cooler."
The zoo is open daily until 5 p.m. Click here for more information.