Prague Zoo keepers placed tons of ice [1] in the outdoor enclosure of polar bears Aleut and Gregor on Thursday, July 30 [2].
The measure was taken to prevent heat stress for the animals as an extreme summer heatwave affected Europe. Because polar bears are biologically adapted for Arctic temperatures, high heat poses a significant health risk to the species in captive environments.
Zoo staff distributed the ice across the enclosure to provide the bears with a cooling surface and a way to regulate their body temperatures. The animals were observed interacting with the ice to stay cool while the regional temperatures remained high [1].
Prague Zoo is located in the Czech Republic, where the summer heatwave has prompted various animal welfare interventions. The use of large quantities of ice is a standard but resource-intensive method to simulate a cooler environment for Arctic species during temperature spikes [3].
This intervention comes as European cities face increasingly severe summer weather patterns. By providing a physical cooling agent, the zoo aims to ensure the bears do not suffer from overheating, or dehydration, while they remain in their outdoor spaces [3].
“Prague Zoo keepers placed tons of ice in the outdoor enclosure of polar bears Aleut and Gregor”
The necessity of deploying tons of ice to maintain the health of Arctic animals highlights the growing challenge zoos face in managing climate extremes. As heatwaves in Europe become more frequent and intense, facilities must implement more aggressive cooling strategies to ensure the survival and welfare of species not adapted to temperate or tropical heat.
