15 July 2024
As the summer sun turns up the heat, there’s no better place to be than Whipsnade Zoo.
For those looking for best things to do on a sunny day, look no further than the animal kingdom for tips and tricks on how to keep cool.
Hippos’ sweaty suncream
Just like humans, the Zoo’s hippos also need to protect their skin from harmful UV rays on a sunny day. But instead of slathering on suncream, hippos create their own by sweating! Hippos secrete a reddish, oily fluid, sometimes referred to as ‘blood sweat’, which acts as protection from the sun, and even has antibacterial properties to help wounds heal.
Meerkats’ super sunglasses
Move over Rayban! Meerkats have an even better way of shading their eyes from the sun. The distinctive dark markings around these fluffy mammal’s eyes act as built-in sunglasses, deflecting the rays of the desert sun and reducing glare. This helps meerkats to see their surroundings clearly – and a must for Whipsnade’s visitors when taking in the spectacular views of Dunstable’s rolling hills.
Giraffes’ cooling coat
A giraffe’s patches are not only great for camouflage - they contain a neat trick that helps regulate their temperature. Tiny blood vessels under each patch help release body heat, keeping these gentle giants cool during a Hertfordshire heatwave. And with their large necks providing space for lots of extra patches, giraffes are experts at keeping themselves cool.
Birds’ parched panting
It’s no secret that dogs pant when they are feeling hot. But did you know that birds do it too? Birds have a complex breathing system that helps them get rid of excess heat by panting. As they pant, the airflow moves heat from inside their bodies to outside. So if you spot a Burrowing Owl, Marabou Stork, or Wattled Crane with their beaks open on a hot day, you know why!
Wallabies’ refrigerating ritual
While you might spend a sunny day licking melted ice-cream off your hands, Whipsnade Zoo’s free-roaming wallabies will have sticky paws for a different reason! Wallabies lick their forearms and then move their arms back and forth as a method of keeping cool. As the water evaporates off, this helps to reduce their body temperature.
Vultures’ protective poo!
This is a heat hack to steer clear of! Taking their quest to beat the heat to the extreme, some birds intentionally defecate on themselves to prevent overheating. Amongst them are vultures, who’s runny poo will both help cool their legs, and protect them from the sun. As the poo evaporates, it has a cooling effect – much like your sweat helps to cool your skin.
Rhinos’ wonderful wallowing
The Zoo’s rhinos know the best place to go on a sunny day in Bedfordshire! Since rhinos can’t sweat, they’ve mastered other methods to stay cool. Their favourite activity on a hot day? A good wallow in some deep, wet mud. The natural mud bath not only draws out their body heat, but also protects their skin from pesky insects and sunburn!
So if you want the perfect things to do on a hot day with kids, take it from Whipsnade Zoo’s animal experts and pant like an owl, wallow like a rhino, or lick your hands like a wallaby.
Be sure to visit Whipsnade zoo this summer and witness first hand the fascinating ways our animal residents keep their cool. Not only is it a fantastic way to spend a sunny day with the family, but each ticket contributes to the vital work international conservation charity ZSL does across the globe.
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