All of us in Beijing are currently sweating it out as a heatwave sweeps over the whole of China. Things have been hot here in the capital for a while now. But we’re not the only ones coping with the 35-plus degree temperatures – the animals at the Beijing Zoo are feeling the heat too.
Because of the soaring temperatures that have smothered the capital in the past week or so, the animals at the Beijing Zoo have been getting the royal treatment in order to keep cool. Pandas, rhinos and polar bears are being hosed down with water, plied with watermelons, handed giant ice cubes and even fed bowls of mung bean soup.
According to Li Dongrui, who is in charge of feeding the animals, the animals are being sprayed down twice a day to prevent overheating. The polar bears, red pandas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees are also given giant, 15kg ice cubes when the temperatures reach 35 degrees or higher.
"We also set up paddling pools for the pandas and elephants, and air conditioners for the polar bears," he said. "This year, we even created a 10-square meter mud pool for the rhinos."
To beat the heat, the giant pandas are even given bowls of mung bean soup, a traditional Chinese summer food.
"Giant pandas cannot handle the heat, so we must keep the indoor temperature between 24 to 26 degrees Celsius," Li said. "They eat eight meals every day to maintain strength, including bamboo shoots, carrots and mung bean soup."
The good news for the zoo animals (and us) is that temperatures are expected to drop starting Friday.
[Images via Xinhua]
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