How do zoo animals keep cool in a heatwave?

Ice lollies and paddling pools are a perfect way to combat the blazing heat - for animals as well as humans.

With the heatwave set to intensify on Saturday, bringing temperatures of up to 34C in some parts of the UK, it is vital to keep animals from overheating.

Zoo keepers and animal sanctuary volunteers across the West Midlands are working hard to keep all creatures great and small cool.

From a sea lion enjoying an iced birthday cake to a badger taking a splash in a paddling pool, here are some of the fun ways people are keeping animals safe during the soaring temperatures.

Over at Dudley Zoo, keepers are whipping up a variety of homemade tasty frozen treats for the animals, with specific flavours for different species.

A spokesperson for the zoo said: "Just like us during the summer months, many animals at Dudley Zoo and Castle enjoy an ice lolly or two to keep cool."

Primates get fruit and vegetables in their lollies, giraffes like leaves, while the carnivores are partial to a blood flavoured popsicle.

At Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Rescue in Nuneaton, run by father-and-daughter team Geoff Grewcock and Emma Hudson, kibble is put into ice cubes to make animal-friendly lollipops.

One of the permanent residents at the rescue is the beloved Minty the badger, who was rescued by the sanctuary after the rest of her family were killed in an act of violent animal cruelty and was unable to be released back into the wild.

Minty enjoys keeping cool by playing in a paddling pool.

At West Midlands Safari Park near Bewdley, the animals are also getting their favourite foods in frozen treats.

Tiny blueberry and apple ice blocks were made for the meerkats, whereas the African elephants had huge ice lollies with fruits, vegetables and leaves, moulded using large buckets.

Keeper Jenny Garde said: "The frozen treats not only provide the animals with cool relief but also stimulate their brains as they have to work out how to get to the suspended delights inside. Just like with us humans, they always go down a treat."

For the California sea lions, their ice treat also doubled as a birthday cake for Callum, who turned 19 years old on Tuesday.

Callum enjoyed pushing the ice cake into the water and playing with it, before sharing it with his friends Jack and Bounty.

Over at Hoo Zoo in Shropshire, paddling pools, iced water and iced fruits are helping to cool their residents - including world-famous capybara Cinnamon, who made global headlines last year when she escaped the Telford zoo.

She is enjoying swimming in the pool in her enclosure to try and keep as cool as she looks.

At Peak Wildlife Park in Staffordshire, the bears have fish-filled ice lollies while the meerkats are given miniature deck chairs, to mimic their natural sunbathing tendencies while allowing them to retreat from the heat where needed.

The animals perhaps least associated with a heatwave - the polar bears - make full use of their pools to regulate their body temperatures.

WILD Zoo in Wolverhampton has employed an array of creative measures to protect its animals.

Deputy head keeper Ben Halsall said: "Every animal responds differently to hot weather, so we tailor our approach to suit their needs.

"The lemurs, meerkats, skunks and binturongs love their home made animal safe frozen treats, the macaws, cockatoos, lorikeets and emus seem to treat hose showers like a spa day.

"We've even hung huge sun sails across enclosures to provide shady spots. We're also lucky to be flanked by beautiful mature trees around the site."

Running an animal rescue is stressful at the best of times, but it's another worry keeping everyone cool in a heatwave.

Brighter Days Rescue in Penkridge, Staffordshire, employs cool mats, licky pads with frozen treats and paddling pools to keep their dogs cool and safe from sunstroke.

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