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Boston Globe

In the summer heat, we all scream for ice treats… even gorillas

The zookeepers are taking to these protocols as a heat wave takes over the city. On Monday, temperatures began to rise, hitting Advertisement The zoo's cooling methods mimic natural cooling techniques and also encourage animals to forage for their food as they would in the wild. Advertisement Ryan Jackson, communications director for Commonwealth Zoological Corporation D/B/A Zoo New England, which manages and operates both Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo in Stoneham, said the zoo's main priority is always ensuring animal safety and making sure they are staying happy and healthy. When the temperature is outside of the allowed range, animals are brought inside to be in cooler areas, he said. On Wednesday afternoon, the zoo's three red river hogs congregated in the shady areas of their habitat, burrowing themselves in the cool dirt and sand to help regulate their body temperature. Nicole Hellmuth, senior zookeeper, said red river hogs, being natural foragers, enjoy looking for ice treats made from frozen strawberry puree, which Hellmuth and other keepers toss into their habitat. 'We look at their behavior,' Hellmuth said. 'Whenever we are introducing something new into their environment, we want it to solicit their natural behavior, so that is kind of our main goal.' Over in the 'Gorilla Grove,' the five gorillas sat leisurely against the cool stone wall, watching visitors pass behind thick glass and enjoying the gentle stream of water blown onto them by misters installed throughout the habitat. Animals like the Western lowland gorilla may be used to a warm, humid climate in the rainforests of Central Africa, but even for them, extreme temperatures can be mitigated through a splashing waterfall and shallow pools in their habitat which they can play and sit in. The gorillas are also given fruit, like cantaloupe, blueberries, and raisins, frozen into small ice cubes, acting as a cooling treat but also as a feeding enrichment activity. Advertisement The habitat that houses the gorillas, is also adapted to the hot summer days, with shade sails providing shady patches and a mister system spraying a constant stream of gentle water into the air. Lil Joe, ironically the largest silverback gorilla in the habitat, enjoys a shady oasis, away from the hot sun and nosy onlookers. 'Joe likes to spend a lot of time in the cave by the water, we affectionately call it his 'man cave,'' said Sawyer, who has worked with the gorillas at Franklin Park for eight years. 'It does stay a lot cooler in there, he does enjoy cool treats too.' The kea, a species of parrot native to New Zealand, is known as an 'alpine parrot' and typically thrives in more mild climates, a contrast to the intense Boston summer sun. At Franklin Park, zookeeper Josh Brancazio keeps the kea cool by providing shallow water baths and giving the parrots frozen treats, including frozen bananas with safflower seeds and peanuts . 'They are definitely not shy about water and will often excitedly wait when the sprinklers or hoses are coming around and get as close as they can to the spray of water so they can enjoy the feeling of it,' Brancazio said, who has a background in avian cognition. Ice treats, a dream for everyone in the summer, are offered to all the animals, ranging from frozen fruit and vegetables to blood or meat icicles for the carnivores. 'We do at least a couple of different enrichment goals every day, and on hot days, we certainly orient them toward thermoregulation, cooling, because we know they will be enjoying them,' said Sawyer. Advertisement Katarina Schmeiszer can be reached at