Like most three-year-olds, Hunter Valley Zoo’s twin white lions Kovu and Nala enjoy playing with the hose on a hot day.
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And just like humans, the lions enjoy an icy-cold treat on a hot day – only their ice-blocks are made of frozen blood.
These are just some of the measures the zoo puts in place to help its animals beat the heat on days like Thursday, when the temperature reached 40 degrees in Nulkaba for the first time this summer.
Zoo owner Jason Pearson said the zoo pumps 10-15,000 litres of water a day around the enclosures to keep the animals cool in the searing temperatures.
They also put frozen water bottles and ice blocks in their water, and make their own ice blocks from fruit and water.
The zoo’s new ring-tailed lemurs tried ice blocks for the first time on Thursday, while resident emu Ernie enjoyed a run through the sprinkler.
Mr Pearson said the animals will take it easy during the heat and find a spot in the shade.
“Animals are a lot smarter than human beings – they won’t force themselves to do anything,” he said.
