How LA Zoo’s animals keep cool during the heat wave

Humans aren’t the only type of Angelenos feeling the heat this summer. The Los Angeles Zoo’s variety of animals, from gorillas to flamingos to sea lions, are playing in the water or eating frozen meat pops to stay cool.

Each species responds to the heat differently, but there are many options for the animals to deal with the July and August sun. The animals especially love it when they’re fed frozen snacks, including berry-filled ice chunks for the herbivores and frozen meat pops dubbed “meatsicles” for the carnivores. When their frozen fruit snacks are brought out, the zoo’s chimpanzees shriek and run to get them in hurried excitement.

Meerkats enjoy “meatsicles” in their habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The keepers at the zoo make popsicle treats for many of the animals in the summer when the outside temperatures heat up. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A gorilla eats a fruitsicle at the Los Angeles Zoo Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The keeper make popsicles for the animals in warm weather. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

South American Giant Otters swim in their habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The otter habitat has lots of water features for the animals to keep cool when the temperatures rise. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Rebeccah Herrera, gorilla keeper, prepares icy fruit treats for the gorillas at the Los Angeles Zoo Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The keeper make popsicles for the animals in warm weather. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A chimpanzee cools off with a fruit popsicle at the Los Angeles Zoo Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The keepers at the zoo make popsicle treats for many of the animals in the summer when the outside temperatures heat up. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A South American Giant Otter heads down a water slide in its habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The otter habitat has lots of water features for the animals to keep cool when the temperatures rise. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A seal cools itself in the water habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dani Cremona, Principal Animal Keeper at the Los Angeles Zoo, feeds fish to South American Giant Otters in their cool water habitat Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The otter habitat has lots of water features for the animals to keep cool when the temperatures rise. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Beth Schaefer, the zoo’s director of animal programs, said the ice treats are an excellent way to provide chilled nutrition while also “eliciting different ways for them to eat their food.”

Looking very thoughtful — or perhaps quietly thrilled — one gorilla inspected, and then happily chewed up, a frozen fruitsicle.

For Ziggy, a 7-year-old harbor seal, the best way to cool off is by splashing in the water. Ziggy’s family of harbor seals live in the zoo’s Sea Life Cliffs, and their habitat has a huge pool of swimming water kept between 65 and 70 degrees.

Another group of marine mammals, the massive California sea lions, love playing in water too. Their home at the zoo is even equipped with a long, winding water slide that the 5-foot-long sea lions like to dive down, head first.

The sea lions are also able to regulate their body temperature by waving their flippers in the air, above the water’s surface as they swim. Schaefer said this behavior is similar to when people stick a limb out from under a blanket to cool down when sleeping.

“The animals are very adaptable,” Schaefer said. “So when it gets warmer, they’re able to adjust. We try to give them as much choice as possible.”

The zoo’s six meerkats stay safe in the heat by burrowing underground during part of the day, while at least one meerkat guard always stays above ground to keep watch for predators.

No zoo animals have experienced heat-related illnesses this year, Schaefer said. But if an animal does become sick or suffers from heat exhaustion, the zoo has a team of veterinarians who are there to help.

For any humans wanting to visit the zoo to see the meerkats, sea mammals, chimps or other critters, it’s important to prepare for the continuing heat wave. According to L.A.’s AccuWeather forecast, the Griffith Park area and environs will see 97 to 98 degrees from Friday through Sunday, with a moderate cooling on Monday to 92 degrees. Next week will be sunny with highs in the low 90s until Thursday, when the temperature finally dips to the high 80s. Coastal areas get a much bigger break, with temperatures in the low 80s dropping to 64 degrees on Thursday,

In order to keep visitors cool, the zoo is opening its doors from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays so guests can see the animals when the weather isn’t as intense. The Friday evening events will last until Aug. 18.

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