How animals beat the heat at Singapore Zoo

With temperatures soaring in Singapore, animals at the Singapore Zoo are doing all they can to beat the heat and stay cool.

From splashing on natural sunscreen to licking a giant popsicle, the zoo's animals are trying their wildest ways to cool down in the hot sun.

Here are some things we can learn about beating the heat from our animal friends:

Tip 1: Cover up!

Satria, Singapore Zoo’s Sumatran orang utan, chooses to block out the sun in the most fashionable way. Here, he has wrapped himself in a gunny sack to hide from the scorching sun.

A scarf or an umbrella will work for us human beings. And don’t forget the sunglasses!

Tip 2: Make a splash!

Omar, Singapore Zoo’s white tiger, does it the simplest way – by spending the day creating big splashes in his pool.

Not only will sloshing about in the water keep you cool, we hear it’s rather therapeutic as well.

Tip 3: Slather on sunscreen (like it’s free)

For Bora the white rhinoceros, there’s nothing better than sloshing in some glorious mud to stay cool and prevent sunburns. The natural sun block also helps keep her skin free of parasites.

If you are out an about in the sun, remember to apply generous amounts of sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Tip 4: Share a popsicle

One of the best ways to beat the sun is to sink your teeth into some icy sweet treats.

Singapore Zoo’s Asian elephant Jati’s got her trunk wrapped around a mammoth red and yellow popsicle, and it looks like Gambir wants a piece too.

Tip 5: Keep your head under water

Singapore Zoo’s pair of pygmy hippopotamus are cooling down by taking a dive. This is a photo of them submerging in a pool of cool water to escape the mugginess.

Hippos have been known to stay underwater for up to six minutes!

Tip 6: If all else fails, move to the Night Safari!

Instead of fighting the heat, Night Safari’s Asiatic lions waits till the sun sets before indulging in their daily activities.

In fact, about 90 per cent of tropical species animals come out at night when it’s cooler.

ljessica@sph.com.sg