Some of the animals at the Rabat Zoo are being given frozen food and chilly showers by the zookeepers to assist them survive the summer heat, especially during heatwaves.
Rabat’s summertime highs can reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees F), so zookeepers use cooling techniques to help the animals that can’t endure the heat.
Animals like lions, who take their time devouring frozen goodies, get some cooling respite from them at the zoo.
“We spray the birds with water and aim to recreate the conditions they would find in nature,” said Hafid Achentarmoun, a zookeeper.
“Birds are constantly seeking water whether to drink it or swim in it. These are the methods they use to lower their body temperatures,” he added.
Opened in 2012, the Rabat zoo houses approximately 2,000 animals from nearly 190 species.
It also plays a crucial role in safeguarding endangered and rare fauna, notably, the Atlas Lions.
The beloved big cats have gone extinct in the wild but a few dozen roam in enclosures at Rabat’s zoo, where they are carefully looked after.
Stretched across 27 hectares, the zoo draws an average of 60,000 visitors each year, making it a significant cultural and tourist destination.