With temperatures climbing well above 40°C (104°F) across Italy, Rome’s Bioparco Zoo is getting creative to help animals cope with the heat. Staff have begun distributing frozen treats — ice blocks packed with fruit, vegetables, or meat, depending on the animal’s diet.
Footage from July 3, 2025, showed brown bears, tigers, and lemurs enthusiastically licking, biting, and clawing at the icy surprises — a refreshing and engaging break from the scorching summer conditions.
Cooling and Enrichment Combined
Zoo curator Yitzhak Yadid emphasized that the icy snacks serve two important purposes:
- Cooling relief during the extreme temperatures.
- Mental stimulation, as the animals must figure out how to break through or melt the ice to access the treats inside.
“It’s not just about staying cool,” Yadid noted. “It’s also about keeping the animals mentally active, especially during long, hot days when behavior changes due to the heat.”
Not All Animals Cope the Same Way
Zookeepers are monitoring each species closely, adapting strategies to match different tolerances to heat. While some animals seek shade or water, others become lethargic or show stress when temperatures climb too high.
The zoo has also increased access to shaded areas, water misters, and cool zones within enclosures.
Another Sign of a Warming Planet
Italy, like much of Europe, is in the grip of an intense multi-week heatwave that meteorologists and climate scientists have linked to global warming. July 2025 has brought record-setting highs, wildfires, and disruptions to infrastructure and wildlife across the continent.
This kind of adaptive care at urban zoos highlights how climate change is affecting even managed animal populations, and how human intervention is increasingly needed to ensure their welfare.
