Gaziantep Zoo Cools Lions, Bears and Monkeys with Frozen Fruit and Meat Cocktails

At Gaziantep Doğal Yaşam Park, Turkey’s largest zoo, staff have introduced a cooling diet for animals during extreme heat. Bears, monkeys, lemurs and other species receive frozen fruit cocktails made from watermelon, cantaloupe, apple, grapes, mango, strawberry, kiwi and peach, while big cats such as lions, tigers, white tigers, leopards, pumas and jaguars are offered ice‑chilled meat cocktails prepared from frozen chicken.

Celal Özsöyler, head of the municipality’s Natural Life Protection Department, explained that the animals also have access to pools for additional relief. He said, “Our animals cool down in the pools during the hottest hours. In addition, we give bears frozen fruit cocktails and carnivores frozen chicken meat cocktails to help them stay cool and maintain their natural behavior.”