RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) 鈥� A Rio de Janeiro zoo is giving ice pops to a bear, a jaguar, wolves and monkeys as Brazil swelters.
The cold treats are part of the animals鈥� well-being program, providing thermal comfort. Some also have access to water tanks or air-conditioning to cool down.
The animals aren鈥檛 the only ones sweltering. Temperatures in have shot to over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in recent days, sending locals diving into the ocean for a refreshing dip or to street vendors selling frozen treats.
At Rio鈥檚 BioParque zoo, some have a different preference.
鈥淔or animals that are carnivores, their favorite flavor is blood,鈥� said Let铆cia Feitosa, a 30-year-old biologist. Herbivores are given fruit or vegetable flavored frozen snacks, she added.
Visitors watched as Poty, a 5-year-old black jaguar, completed laps in a pool of fresh water.
Erminda da Concei莽茫o Guerreiro Couto, a university biology professor who was visiting the zoo, said is part of preventing high temperatures from interfering with the animals' organisms.
鈥淭hey get more tired. They become less stimulated. They tend to be very quiet,鈥� Guerreiro Couto said. 鈥淎s (the treat) melts, they lick it off. In addition to the meat, they have the freshness.鈥�
High temperatures in Brazil鈥檚 southeast were set to drop from Thursday, according to the National Institute of Meteorology, while Rio鈥檚 town hall said rain was forecast from Wednesday afternoon.
Diarlei Rodrigues And El茅onore Hughes, The Associated Press
