Cooling down guests and animals at Florida Zoos

AccuWeather

AccuWeather's Leslie Hudson was live in Sanford, Florida, at the Central Florida Zoo on June 26, to discuss how zoos are keeping people cool as temperatures rise in the Sunshine State.

Transcript

00:00Temperatures continue to soar into the 90s across Florida and AccuWeather

00:04Riofield temperatures will be over a hundred degrees. Outdoor attractions in

00:08Central Florida are ramping up efforts to protect guests from the sweltering

00:11heat. AccuWeather's Leslie Hudson joins us live from the Central Florida Zoo with

00:16more and we have had so much fun watching the animals. Now we get to see all the kids enjoying the fun too.

00:24That is right Ari. I did the splash pad for the last one because I know you and

00:28Bernie know firsthand this wild species over my shoulder. My kids are now a later

00:34teenager. This is a saving grace when you're in a hot area and your kids are

00:41tired and cranky. The splash pad is the way to go. So you know it's not just the

00:45kids that overheat. The animals overheat too and the zookeepers here are doing a

00:51great job of making sure that everyone, the wild species and the human species, are

00:55happy when they're outdoors. So we shot some video yesterday. Our buddy PJ, the

01:00four thousand pound great horned rhino, put on a show for us. He got some

01:05enrichment with a nice big splash bath yesterday keeping him cool underneath

01:09this Florida sun. As Bernie was mentioning that AccuRealfield temperature was

01:13probably about 105 yesterday. I meant to check but I know based on my sweat level

01:18it was at least 105. So really really hot yesterday. It's quite warm today. The kids are

01:24already out in the splash pad as you saw and this zoo just opened technically

01:29about an hour ago. So the staff here also keeps a very watchful eye on the

01:35attendees here. They make sure that they're not getting overheated. If they look

01:38overheated they run bringing out some water or some electrolytes but also they

01:43keep a keen eye on their animals to start attractions here during those summer

01:47months. We do encourage our animals to be out so that guests can see them and

01:53that's the whole reason why they're here to visit. But in the summer months we do

01:57give our animals choice and control over where they want to be and sometimes that

02:02might be in their cooler barn or in their cooler bedroom for our primates. So we do

02:07encourage the animals to be up front but sometimes if they want to they're

02:12going to be in the back in the nice shady spot.

02:16And I am with them. I am all for the shady spot. I'm out here of course in the splash pad to show you

02:22guys the kids that are having a great time. But again they give those wild animals the free

02:28rain to do what they want. And also you're encouraged. You probably know this but get into

02:32those air condition exhibits when you can. Take advantage to cool off. Make sure you're staying

02:37hydrated. If you are feeling thirsty you are already dehydrated and you want to make sure that you're

02:41preparing. Also don't forget if you're coming here to the Orlando area make sure you bring those bathing

02:46suits even here because most of our attractions even though the Central Florida Zoo has these splash

02:52pads. Florida is inundated with them. So make sure you take advantage of that while you enjoy

02:56our beautiful weather. Reporting live from Stanford I'm Leslie Hudson back to you.

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