Ice bombs, showers and shade: how Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's zoos keep animals cool in the heat
With temperatures climbing, zoos in Rostock, Schwerin and Stralsund are turning to frozen treats, water showers and natural shade to keep species from polar bears to red pandas comfortable.
Zoos across Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are deploying a mix of frozen feed, sprinklers and cool shelter to help their animals through the current hot spell. The approach varies by species, with ice blocks, outdoor showers and natural tree cover all playing a part.
Cooling treats and showers
At Rostock Zoo, seals receive so-called ice bombs: fish frozen into large blocks that are thrown into the water so the animals can play with their food and cool down at the same time. The zoo's polar bears also get these frozen fish blocks, alongside access to large, shaded concrete enclosures that stay cool even in high outdoor temperatures.
On especially hot days, keepers give the bears a direct, refreshing shower.Since the animals were born in Europe, they are accustomed to local temperatures to some degree.
Species-specific strategies
In Schwerin, anteaters are hosed down because of their dense fur. Zoo spokesperson Anne Schilling explains:
Red pandas, native to the Himalayas, retreat into shady treetops. Rhinos, by contrast, are unfazed by the heat and can be found lying in the sun. A senior tiger in Schwerin spends the day in cool, shaded grass and, like other predators, receives ice bombs. In Stralsund, polar wolves and snowy owls come from regions where summer can also be warm; they make use of the zoo's tree shade, a perk not always found in their native tundra.It's simply that they have relatively dense fur, so they occasionally need cooling.
Nature provides relief
The zoos highlight their wooded settings as a natural advantage. Rostock describes generous shade zones on animal enclosures and visitor paths thanks to historic, dense tree populations. Schwerin is set in a forest and bordered by lakes; Schilling suggests visitors could take a quick swim in the nearby Schweriner See or Faulensee before or after a zoo tour. The zoo has also recently received a sprinkler system from the local water and wastewater utility, giving visitors an extra way to cool down.
Visitors and precautions
No visitor restrictions are currently in place. However, Stralsund Zoo notes that a smoking ban on pathways could be introduced if prolonged drought triggers a forest-fire warning level. For the animals, the simplest rule is already in effect.
In the end, it's like with people: activity is just reduced accordingly. This isn't weather where you perform at peak.
