At Terra Natura Benidorm we have activated a protocol of specific measures to help the animals to withstand the high temperatures during these days. Our team of veterinarians and zookeepers have enabled sprinkler irrigation systems that simulate the fall of rain and have incorporated fresh fruit ice lollies into the diet of species who are especially sensitive to heat.

The outdoor meadows of the animals have irrigation systems that allow the facilities to be humidified at different times of the day so the environment is constantly refreshed and this, in addition to being beneficial for the animals, also represents an added element of enrichment environmental that is an entertainment game for them, stimulating their activity and well-being, as well as their relationship with the environment.

In parallel, to combat the heat, ice lollies made with fresh fruit are given to the rhinos, peccaries, porcupines, elephants, capuchin monkeys, gibbons and siamang. In the case of carnivorous animals, like dholes and tigers, the ice lollies are made with beef or chicken. For herbivores we use fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges and melons, or vegetables such as cucumbers and peppers, or sunflower seeds and corn.

Ice lollies are also a dual-purpose environmental enrichment measure. On the one hand, this ice lolly snack helps the animals to cope better with the high temperatures of the summer season and, on the other hand, it stimulates the playful capacity of the animals with the incentive of food before they can eat it. Zookeepers change the way in which this unique appetiser is given to the specimens to arouse and motivate their curiosity towards this summer dessert.

This activity is carried out throughout the summer, although on the hottest days it intensifies, both in the outer meadows and in the inner enclosures. Every day this environmental enrichment is applied to different species in order to stimulate their curiosity. In general, all animals enjoy ice lollies, but the species with greater intelligence and sociability are those that enjoy this moment the most. Among these species, the primates, felines and elephants stand out.

The heat makes changes in the behaviour of the animals, some of these changes can be clearly seen in animals who change their thick winter fur for a shorter and cooler one before the arrival of heat; cold-blooded reptiles protect themselves going in the shade to regulate their temperature, elephants cool themselves by circulating blood through the arteries of their large ears, as well as rhinos that enjoy refreshing baths, big cats spend the hottest hours sleeping to activate themselves in the late afternoon and birds soften their plumage to fan itself and refresh their body.