Flamingos love it, zoos don’t: Heatwave woes for animal attractions

Devon: Wildlife attractions across the South West are feeling the strain of this year’s heatwaves, with zoos reporting fewer visitors, water shortages and rising costs to keep animals safe.

Dartmoor Zoo said visitor figures fell by about 12% in June. Chief Executive Dr David Gibson called it “a very, very tight month” as people opted for beaches and gardens instead of animal attractions during the hot weather.“Lots and lots of different impacts” have followed the dry spell, Gibson said. The zoo faced a water shortage after one of its two boreholes ran dry. “The level of the water in the ground has basically dropped, so the pump was sitting in air,” he explained. The park was forced to run at 50% capacity but has since resolved the issue.

In Cornwall, Paradise Park said its Caribbean flamingos appeared to “quite like” the hot weather. But staff are battling another heat-related problem: algal blooms in animal ponds. “It’s a really big problem” and “a huge expense,” the park said.

The pressures come as the Environment Agency has declared a drought across more than half of England. More than 20 million people are currently under hosepipe bans, and wildlife parks are also dealing with a lack of grass for grazing animals.

Zoo managers say they are adapting enclosures, increasing shade and water sources, and closely monitoring animal welfare as the hot, dry conditions continue.