Britain’s heatwave: How our animals cope

Scorching hot summer days are here! According to forecasts, Britain is heading for a sizzling fortnight heatwave, with temperatures set to skyrocket up to 35 degrees – that’s warmer than many Mediterranean countries! While the mercury is high, our amazing animals are finding their own unique ways to keep cool. Head to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm this weekend and you are likely to see plenty of animals enjoying the sunshine and finding ways to cool down – especially if you make your way to Elephant Eden…

Our African Elephant Janu has been making the most of the bathing pool, taking any opportunity he can to play around in the water and keep cool when the sun is beaming down. And who can blame him?

Elephant Eden has been described as a “five star destination for elephants”, and it’s easy to see why. The swimming pool is just part of the vast, enriched environment the elephants live in, spanning over 20 acres. The fields and barn are state-of-the-art, there are automated winches for feeding in the night, hot and cold showers, six deep sandpits and – not that it’s needed at the moment – a central heating system. Janu is now nine years old, but it’s the first time he has ever ventured into the water. Now he has discovered the fun and games to be had in the pool, we have a feeling it could prove hard to coax him out again!

This week, plenty of onlookers had a chance to see Janu playing in the water, dunking his head right under and making a splash. However, it wasn’t just visitors who watched from the side lines – M’Changa, his six-year-old companion, also seemed happier watching than bathing. Maybe this weekend M’Changa will decide to take the plunge. If you would like to learn even more about the way elephants live, head to the daily Keeper Talk at 1.30pm at Elephant Eden. What’s more, we offer a variety of Keeper Experiences which give you the rare opportunity to get up-close and hands-on with some of our amazing animals. A Keeper Experience makes the perfect gift – or why not treat yourself?

It's not just our elephants finding novel ways to cool down, our rhinos have been taking mudbaths all week help them keep cool in the hot weather. If you are visiting Noah’s Ark during this hot spell of weather, you’ll be pleased to know that there are many places where you can make a pit-stop for a little respite; our kiosks offer ice-cold beverages, and our on-site café serves a wide range of fresh food and drink to keep you refreshed. Noah’s Ark is the perfect place to spend a sunny day, with vast spaces of land to stroll around – you can even bring a picnic!