Winter time at the zoo

22.10.2009

Last boat ride for the season on October 25

Zoo animals also put on their winter woollies for the cold weather - each in its own way. While some like to cuddle up in a warm stall, others are cheerful as could be on chilly days.

Snow cats
It can never be too cold for our Siberian Tigers. They're silly about snow and will romp in it all day, skidding down their hill in the Jungle Palace on broad paws. Only when the temperature drops below minus 30 do these stripy giants start to grumble about the weather.

Hot rocks
Some animals are so inquisitive by nature that they can’t be kept indoors, so the Zoo has put ‘hotplates’ under their favourite places in the enclosures. From their warm lookout rocks, meerkats, tigers, lions and leopards keep an eye on the comings and goings.

Underwater ballerinas
The hippos have retired to their private indoor pool, to doze in the warm water or perform their underwater ballet for visitors to admire through the thick glass windows.

Shift work
When Jack Frost calls our African animals only venture outside for a little while each day. Because lots of zoo enclosures are home to several species, they take turns to go for a stroll. Gazelles and Antelopes only take a few trots around the enclosure before being called into the warm again so that their ears don’t get frostbite.

Hot showers
Elephants are very sensitive to cold and stay in their stall when the north wind blows. Like antelopes, their ears could easily get frostbite.

In general our elephants can be seen on mild winter days at around midday, after their warm shower and scrub down. Only when every elephant’s dried off are they allowed out to play - they can’t risk a runny trunk.

Tucked up warm indoors
Animals that can’t stand the cold have made themselves comfortable indoors: chimpanzees, gorillas, orang-utans, drills, langurs and lorikeets are snug as a bug in a rug and waiting to receive visitors in the jungle and tropical houses.


Winter opening times & shows
Open from 10 am - 4 pm (no boat trips)
Winter shows & feedings >>

Winter admission prices
Adults 12 Euro
Children 10 Euro