Longleat animals keep their cool during summer heat (From Wiltshire Times)

Longleat animals keep their cool during summer heat

2:10pm Monday 6th July 2009

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Giant ice lollies, hose pipe baths and freeze blocks are among the methods being recruited by keepers at Longleat Safari Park near Warminster to help our furry and feathered friends stay cool during the scorching weather.

South American Macaws and African grey parrots revelled in regular soakings with a hose pipe during the recent heatwave, in a bid to cool their body temperatures down and protect them from the dry heat.

In addition, otters and ferrets were given ice blocks to play on and lick, while guinea pigs enjoyed the shade of an umbrella.

Darren Beasley, head of Pet’s Corner, said birds need a regular bath to keep their feathers in order and stressed it was important to recreate the conditions they would be used to in the wild.

“We will bath our birds pretty much every day, even in the winter. With the scorching weather we really have to soak them to lower their body temperature,” he said.

“You get some that absolutely love it and they come over and barge the others out of the way. Other sometimes don’t want a bath and they stay at the back like a naughty schoolchild.”

He said a keeper’s job is harder in the summer when all the animals are out, in comparison to the winter, when the they can be kept indoors with the heating turned up.

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