SEMARANG; The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) data showed temperatures in Semarang reached 37.1 degrees Celsius over the past week, putting the Central Java city among the hottest places in Indonesia during that period.
From fruit cocktails to frozen meat, keepers at Semarang Zoo in Central Java are finding creative ways to keep animals cool as a prolonged dry season brings scorching temperatures to Indonesia.
Bimo Wahyu Widodo Dasir Santoso, director of PT Taman Satwa Semarang, which manages the zoo, has ordered staff to closely monitor the animals and adjust their daily care and feeding routines to cope with the heat.
“We monitor temperatures manually by observing the animals’ behaviour in their enclosures. Temperatures of around 38 to 39.5 degrees Celsius are still within the range that animals can tolerate, although tolerance varies by species,” Bimo said on Friday as quoted by Kompas.com.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) data showed temperatures in Semarang reached 37.1 degrees over the past week, putting the Central Java city among the hottest places in Indonesia during that period.
Bimo said there had been no noticeable decline in the animals’ appetite due to the heat so far, but the zoo had taken precautionary measures, modifying their diets and providing fresh food as enrichment tailored to each species.
Primates such as orangutans and monkeys are given fresh fruit cocktails, while carnivores including tigers and lions are fed frozen meat.
For herbivores, keepers add ice cubes to drinking water to help keep it cool.
“We replace the animals’ drinking water every three hours to prevent it from becoming too warm under direct sunlight. We also provide weekly vitamin supplements to help maintain their health,” Bimo said.
The zoo has also stepped up cooling measures around the enclosures.
For elephants, keepers activate sprinklers during the day and spray water around their enclosures to help lower temperatures. Birds are also regularly sprayed or bathed with water.
The zoo has also adjusted the animals’ activity schedules, reducing the frequency of animal shows to limit physical exertion during the hottest part of the day and reduce the risk of heatstroke.
“We are also monitoring the animals for early signs of heatstroke. If an animal becomes unusually inactive and shows rapid breathing, our medical team will immediately provide intensive treatment,” Bimo said.
To prepare for prolonged hot weather, Semarang Zoo is planting more trees in animal enclosures to provide more natural shade. It is also designing enclosed sleeping areas to shield animals from extreme weather, including intense heat and heavy rain.
The zoo is also adding shaded areas, garden spaces and seating for visitors, particularly around the primate enclosures.
Mini trains and all-terrain vehicles are available to help visitors move around the zoo while limiting their exposure to the heat.
Giyarto, head of management and operations at the BMKG’s Semarang Meteorological Station, said the recent heat was being driven by a combination of a strong El Nino and the seasonal movement of the sun.
The strong El Nino has contributed to drier conditions in parts of Indonesia, while the sun’s movement from the equator towards the Southern Hemisphere has increased solar radiation reaching Java, he said.
“The combination is making temperatures feel hotter, particularly under clear skies and with little rainfall,” he said last week.
Giyarto said temperatures were expected to peak in October.
The developing El Nino in the Pacific has reached record strength, according to scientists monitoring ocean temperatures.
Sea surface temperatures in a key region of the central-eastern Pacific were 3.05 degrees above average on Sept. 19, exceeding the previous record of 3.02 degrees set during the strong 2015 El Nino, the BBC reported.
The extreme heat has also put pressure on zoos and wildlife facilities across the globe, prompting them to take measures to protect animals from high temperatures.
In Tokyo, three female lions at Tama Zoological Park died between late July and early August, with heatstroke suspected as a cause. - Jakarta Post/ANN
