site.btaLots of Frozen Fruit, Water and Shades for the Sofia Zoos Animals in the Heat Wave

The animals in the Sofia zoo get lots of frozen fruits, water and shades to keep them cool during the ongoing heat wave. Zoo director Dobromir Borislavov told BTA that the zookeepers give the animals baths or spray them with water during the day. "For animals, just like humans, it is important to keep cool in the heat and drink a lot of liquids. For the bears, monkeys and some other species we make "ice cream" with frozen fruits and vegetables," he said.

The summer is hard of the species that originate in colder climates. One such animal is the rare takin, or gnu goat, which is the national animal of Bhutan and in nature leaves on the rocky slopes of the Hinalayas: during the hot days it chooses to stay indoors where it has shade and water, and the temperature is close to the one it is used to. The snow leopard is another lover of cooler climates and prefers to be indoors where even the floor temperature is kept low.

The zoo director urges visitors to avoid the zoo during the hottest hours, between 13:00 and 16:00, all the more so that most animals are inside and can't be seen during these hours. 

More zoo news

A Hanuman langur baby was recent born in the Sofia Zoo. It is the first baby of this species in the history of the zoo because it has not had a reproducing group to this day, the director told BTA.

He said that the zoo is focused on improving the living conditions for its present inhabitants and is not planning new acquisitions. "It is a commitment Sofia Zoo has made as a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria," he explained.

The zoo is welcoming a growing number of visitors, among them foreigners. Even on week days it attracts crowds of children and adults, said the director.