Icy treats help monkeys beat the heat

Updated 09.19 Thu Aug 07 2008
Keywords: Madrid, rhino, chimp, orangutan, Maria Declaud, vet, spain, food, temperature, barometer, Zoo, animals

Zookeepers in Spain are serving ice-creams to help their animals cope with a heatwave.

Temperatures have been soaring across the country and the residents of Madrid Zoo are feeling the heat.

"If temperatures soar too much we shower them, treat them with ice-creams and ice fruits but normally their own physiognomy and our care avoid major risks" - Maria Delclaud

Monkeys and bears are given ice-creams while rhinos prefer to enjoy the benefits of a cool bath in the 40C scorcher.

Vet Maria Delclaud said: "Animals follow instinctively the same precautions doctors advise us to take like staying out of direct sunlight during the heat of the day, avoid exercising and so on.

"If temperatures soar too much we shower them, treat them with ice-creams and ice fruits but normally their own physiognomy and our care avoid major risks."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.