Beijing Zoo Animals Stay Cool During Heatwave

With temperatures peaking at 104 degrees Fahrenheit, animals at Beijing Zoo are going through one of their hottest summers in the country's capital.

Some pandas keep their cool in the air-conditioned Panda Pavilion, slouching on big ice cubes, while others enjoy a nap by the water sprinklers in their outdoor playground.

The zoo has been preparing for the heat for half a year. Apart from installing air-conditioners for the "more valuable" species and shades for others, it also delivers oversized ice cubes to its residents.

[Zhang Yizhuo, Zookeeper]:
"You can see that we deliver a lot of ice cubes to animals. These ice cubes are made especially by our zoo. At the current temperature, we deliver tens of ice cubes daily to animals that cannot withstand the heat well, such as pandas, bears and gibbons."

The zoo has spent US$147,000 to battle the heat, according to state media.

[Deng Xifan, Zoo Visitor]:
"The weather's hot and humid. If I were it the animal, I would stand right beneath the waterfall."

Despite the tailor-made accommodation, some animals still choose to stay away from the sun and take refuge indoors. The zoo also keeps some of its residents indoors when the temperature becomes unbearable, which may leave a few visitors disappointed.

[Hu Ming, Zoo Visitor]:
"Because of Beijing's hot weather and high temperatures in the past few days, some animals appear to dislike the heat and stay indoors."

China has been suffering from a heat wave which has shattered temperature records. Temperatures in at least 14 counties and towns in China's central Henan Province rose above 98 degrees Fahrenheit, while Luoyang County peaked at 104.