On a hot Friday at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, both animals and visitors found ways to stay cool, from shady spots to frozen treats.For Snowflake, the zoo’s polar bear, cooling off meant taking a swim in her pool, which is kept at a crisp 58 degrees.“She has an air-conditioned den in the back if she so chooses to use that,” Zoo President Dr. Jeremy Goodman said.He said that most of the zoo’s animals have options to stay cool, and their bodies are well-adapted to handle the heat.“Their ears are filled with lots of blood vessels. And when they flap them, it actually cools the blood down in their body so they can actually lower the temperature by probably close to 15 degrees,” Goodman said, referring to the African elephants.Visitors also found ways to beat the heat.“I do have some water, staying hydrated,” said Evan Barker, who recently moved to Pittsburgh from Florida.“We’re buying ice cream, and we’re having cold water and hitting the shady areas when we can,” said Nancy Connolly, of Hampton.Even the animals indulged in frozen treats, like the clouded leopard enjoying a frozen salmon on ice. Pigs were treated with a block of frozen apple juice with berries, and elephants were treated with frozen pumpkins and sprayed with water.Despite the hot temperatures, the zoo will remain open.An extreme heat warning has been extended through Saturday evening in Western Pennsylvania.
PITTSBURGH —
On a hot Friday at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, both animals and visitors found ways to stay cool, from shady spots to frozen treats.
For Snowflake, the zoo’s polar bear, cooling off meant taking a swim in her pool, which is kept at a crisp 58 degrees.
“She has an air-conditioned den in the back if she so chooses to use that,” Zoo President Dr. Jeremy Goodman said.
He said that most of the zoo’s animals have options to stay cool, and their bodies are well-adapted to handle the heat.
“Their ears are filled with lots of blood vessels. And when they flap them, it actually cools the blood down in their body so they can actually lower the temperature by probably close to 15 degrees,” Goodman said, referring to the African elephants.
Visitors also found ways to beat the heat.
“I do have some water, staying hydrated,” said Evan Barker, who recently moved to Pittsburgh from Florida.
“We’re buying ice cream, and we’re having cold water and hitting the shady areas when we can,” said Nancy Connolly, of Hampton.
Even the animals indulged in frozen treats, like the clouded leopard enjoying a frozen salmon on ice. Pigs were treated with a block of frozen apple juice with berries, and elephants were treated with frozen pumpkins and sprayed with water.
Despite the hot temperatures, the zoo will remain open.
An extreme heat warning has been extended through Saturday evening in Western Pennsylvania.