Antalya Natural Life Park introduces icy fruit treats to cool animals

Antalya Büyükşehir Belediyesi’s Natural Life Park, home to about 115 species and roughly 1,500 animals, has launched a summer‑heat relief program. Staff prepare frozen fruit‑and‑vegetable cocktails tailored to each species’ energy needs and serve them on designated days. The initiative aims to lower heat‑induced stress and provide behavioral enrichment.

Park director Dr. Aygül Arsun explained that the frozen treats “are not only a nutritional supplement but also an enrichment activity; the animals spend time extracting the fruit and vegetables, cooling down and interacting with each other.” The program covers baboons (bozay), lemurs, primates and other residents, with baboons receiving the supplement twice a week. Additional cooling measures include shaded areas, pools and water features throughout the park.

The effort reflects the municipality’s response to unusually high temperatures in Antalya, where daytime highs have reached 38 °C, affecting both people and wildlife.