Furry friends get cool treat to beat the heat

By Djembe Archibald

Jan 24, 2024

Brrr-illiant: A pademelon chows down. Photo: Jo Howell

Munching, crunching, and slurping — when it’s hot at Kyabram Fauna Park the animals cool down with an icy delight.

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Keepers have been freezing the daily diet of the kangaroos, pademelons and dingoes as temperatures climb above 35°C and the sun shines brightly.

Snack: A dingo gets his cooling ice during the warmer days. Photo: Jo Howell

Kyabram Fauna Park mammal keeper Jessica Lyne said the ice blocks helped to regulate the animals’ body temperature and provided a unique way to serve up their food.

“The animals either consume the ice or they lay in the water created once the ice blocks melt,” Ms Lyne said.

“It is engaging for the animals to touch the cold food item and mentally stimulating because it prolongs how long it takes to consume their food.

“We prepare blood and meat ice blocks for the dingoes, so they will spend their time licking the ice. Whereas we freeze carrots for the kangaroos and pademelons to nibble on.”

Yummy: A kangaroo enjoys an icy treat to beat the heat. Photo: Jo Howell

In addition to their permanent water sources, the animals are also provided with water bodies to swim in, misting sprinkler systems and frozen water bottles in their nest boxes.