With this summer’s hot weather in full force, most pet owners are giving extra thought to how to keep their pets cool.

However, given that cheetahs, rhinoceroses, or giraffes can’t simply lie on the kitchen tiles, zookeepers at Canberra’s National Zoo and Aquarium need to get creative.

And given the ongoing heatwave forecast, the team are in full creative overdrive.

So, how do they keep their precious charges cool?

“All our animals have misting systems and cooling areas throughout summer, normally, but we’ve added in a few extra things,” Zookeeper and Wildlife Manager, Sophie Dentrinos, says.

“Lots of ice boxes and extra monitoring … in the cooler parts of the day, which includes adding Hydralyte to some of the animals’ ice blocks,” she says.

One animal who is clearly grateful for this is Solo the Cheetah.

“Solo is particularly a fan of ice blocks. So today we gave him an ice block with frozen cat milk, …and animal’s blood,” says Zookeeper Lewis Webb.

And whilst Solo enjoys his ‘blood-sicles’, it’s understandably not everyone’s cup of cooling tea.

Ubuntu, the 15-year-old White Rhinoceros, prefers mud!

And thankfully, he has his own ‘mud wallow’ available to him 24/7.

There are, however, some places that Ubuntu can’t reach, so he was treated to an ‘all-over mud mask’ today.

Because, providing it’s the right ‘mud that sticks’, mud acts as a sunscreen, moisturiser and insect repellent for Ubuntu.

What else helps the animals in the heat?

Lewis says of Solo, “Typically, we visit and check up on him four or five times a day, but on days like today, …we’ll probably be up here six or seven times.

 “He’s got some wood grass, rocks, pavement, concrete, but we will also make sure that his respiratory rate is fine, … and he’s seeking out that shade,” he says.

Some animals have pureed watermelon added to their ice blocks and those animals who love water, like sun bears and tigers, relish ‘getting under the hose’.

Shaba, the 13-year-old giraffe, also enjoys his king-size ‘carrot ice buckets’.

Like the animals and zookeepers, the zookeeping team suggest we also adjust our routines and head to the zoo when it is coolest.

“And we’ve got plenty of light refreshments, cool options, and … shade around”, says Sophie.

So, head to the zoo one morning, and you might just catch the biggest mud bath you’ve ever seen!