Elephants 'beat the heat' in snowy enclosure
In light of the recent heatwave, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo has come up with a novel plan to help its largest residents to beat the heat.
The zoo's elephants are awaiting a large delivery of 20 tonnes of snow for their enclosure - a seven acre paddock housing nine Asian elephants.
Complete with snowmen, this icy enrichment will come from the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, the UK's newest snowsports destination.
It will create a winter wonderland and unleash the elephants' playful personalities, as they roll in it and make snowballs with their trunks.
Technicians will be getting up at 5am to prepare for the delivery today (July 25), and journalists, photographers and film crews are invited to see the elephants playing in the snow.
Assistant curator of elephants, Lee Sambrook, said: "We’re always looking for new ways to keep our elephants cool in this heat, and the youngsters especially love having new things to investigate so we’re expecting them to love their snowy surprise."
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