Wagga Zoo and Aviary staff are taking extra measures to ensure the animals are safe and comfortable during this week’s heatwave. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
More than 50 animals at the Wagga Zoo and Aviary have been given the VIP treatment by staff as the extended heatwave continues across the Riverina.
Wagga Wagga is set to record its highest temperatures across three days since January 2020, with Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (7 – 9 January) all on track to exceed the 40-degree mark.
The extreme temperatures have affected many local residents, including those who reside at the Wagga zoo.
Staff have put in place several strategies to ensure the many animals who call it home feel comfortable.
Zookeeper Joshua Thompson said staff began special preparation for days expected to be over 35 degrees in the morning, to allow the animals to be as comfortable as possible.
“Normally, our response to high temperature days sees us shutting our gates at 12 for three days, and that allows us to manage behind the scenes,” he said.
“Once the gates are closed, we can turn all of our sprinkler systems on to keep the enclosures all cool.
“We’ll go around with ice buckets, and give them somewhere cool and that to all the animals to lie. We can freeze a bunch of the food in that to give them some sort of enrichment, as well as cooling them off.”
Wagga’s Zoo and Aviary features more than 50 animals, including pigs, deer, sheep, camels, wallabies, cows, emus, kangaroos and even a snake. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Mr Thompson said that while many of the animals – including kangaroos, wallabies and emus – could withstand the heat, others, including smaller animals and birds, could struggle.
“We’ve got a lot of Australian natives here, which is good. So they’re used to our hearty climate,” he said.
“We will have to watch a lot of our bird species closely as they are such small creatures, and the heat affects them a lot more. We’ll put sprinkler systems on. We’ve got a couple of squirty bottles of water that will go around and hose the birds.”
Staff also have methods in place for themselves to beat the scorching temperatures.
“We’ve got a bunch of ice blocks and that in the freezer to help cool us down,” he said.
“We ensure that we’re putting on sunscreen every 45 minutes. We also try to get most things done in the morning before being in direct sunlight.”
While the zoo will remain closed after midday for at least the next two days, Mr Thompson said those looking to enjoy the facility and the animals were still encouraged to do so.
“We’re quite lucky, all of our enclosures at least have trees as well as ample shade,” he said.
“There are always places that you can hide out of the heat, in the zoo and free flight aviary is well shaded in there and cool all the time.”
The Wagga Zoo and Aviary is open 9 am to 4 pm, Sunday to Friday or until midday on days over 35 degrees.
