Keepers at Bristol Zoo Gardens have been preparing cold treats to help the animals cool down in the hot weather this week.

The gorillas were given ice lollies made from frozen fruit and juice to help them cool off. Keepers often give the animals additional enrichment treats to help them keep cool in extreme weather conditions.

John Partridge, Bristol Zoo Gardens’ senior curator of animals, said: “Giving fruit or fish with ice to our animals is a great way of helping them to keep cool in this hot weather. It is also an interesting treat for them and provides the perfect enrichment activity toy.”

Many of the Zoo’s animals are enjoying the heat wave. Visitors to Gorilla Island can often see silverback gorilla, Jock, snoozing in the sun, while the nearby lemurs like to sunbathe sitting up on their hind legs, with their arms splayed out. The Zoo’s four giant tortoises, Biggie, Twiggy, Helen and Matilda can be seen relaxing in their paddock, munching on the grass.

Other animals, such as the tapirs, capybaras, hippos and otters, keep cool by swimming in their pools, while the gorillas have a stream to splash about in. All the animals have shady spots around their enclosures, with access indoors if they want to get out of the sun.

For more information about Bristol Zoo Garden’s visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk.

ENDS

For more information contact Bristol Zoo Press Office:

Lucy Parkinson, T: 0117 974 7306, E:lparkinson@bristolzoo.org.uk

Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309, E: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk

Notes to the Editor:

BristolZoo Gardens

• BristolZoo Gardensis an education and conservation charity and relies on the income from visitors to support its work. 
• Throughout 2010 Bristol Zoo will be running a series of events to highlight the importance of conserving the world’s biodiversity, as part of the international Year of Biodiversity. For more information visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/conservation/campaigns/iyob
• To find out more about the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity visit the website at www.biodiversityislife.net
• The Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species. 
• Itemploys 140 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work. 
• BristolZoo Gardenssupports – through finance and skill sharing - over 12 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
• BristolZoo Gardensis a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.