Tigers and lions are additionally commonly sprayed with water

Manila, Philippines:

A Philippine zoo is giving tigers frozen treats fabricated from animal blood and stopping lions from mating through the hottest time of the day as a heatwave scorches the nation.

Unusually scorching climate has despatched temperatures within the capital Manila to a report excessive in current days and compelled colleges throughout the archipelago nation to droop in-person courses.

As folks flock to air-conditioned purchasing malls and swimming swimming pools for reduction from the intense warmth, animals at Manila Zoo are additionally attempting to chill off.

Stopping warmth stroke, significantly among the many huge cats, was the “predominant precedence”, zoo veterinarian Dave Vinas instructed AFP on Tuesday when the mercury hit 37 levels Celsius (98.6 levels Fahrenheit) within the metropolis.

Water is splashed on the partitions and floor of concrete enclosures all through the day to assist decrease the temperature inside.

“Bloodsicles” created from frozen floor beef or rooster, animal blood and nutritional vitamins are given to the massive cats to lick.

Tigers and lions are additionally commonly sprayed with water and take dips in swimming pools inside their pens.

Too scorching to mate

Wendell, a five-year-old Bengal tiger weighing virtually 400 kilograms (882 kilos), pants continuous as he soaks for hours in a shallow pool.

“Just like the tiny cats we have now at dwelling, they should sleep at the least 12-16 hours a day. However right now because it’s actually scorching they’re swimming to alleviate the warmth from the physique,” Vinas mentioned.

Gab, a lioness, appears to be like bored as she sits on an elevated concrete platform after zoo keepers locked her male companion Diego in one other pen to stop them from mating on the hottest a part of the day.

“We do not wish to expose them to the mating half on this warmth,” Vinas mentioned. “We do not wish to set off any warmth stroke.”

Water can also be poured over the enclosures housing snakes and turtles to assist regulate their physique temperature.

Whereas icicles and baths have been regular through the hotter months of March, April and Might, Vinas mentioned this yr’s warmth was essentially the most intense he had skilled.

“Even when they get good air flow, the temperature yearly will get worse and worse,” he instructed AFP.

“We simply discover methods to make it higher for the animals.”

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)