Animals at Colchester Zoo have been cooling down in the heat by licking ices and enjoying water from sprinklers.

East Anglian Daily Times: Penguins around the sprinklers Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFFPenguins around the sprinklers Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFF

It’s not just humans who like to keep cool on a hot day. Animals are just the same, and, during the current heatwave, staff at the zoo have found ways to ease the heat for them.

Bears have been digging into ice blocks for their food, while penguins, Kune Kune pigs, tortoises and ostriches have all had fun with the sprinklers.

East Anglian Daily Times: Meerkats having some refreshing ice blocks Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFFMeerkats having some refreshing ice blocks Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFF

Melissa Fitch, the zoo’s business development manager, said: “The keepers give the animals enrichment, to keep them stimulated and use their natural behaviours, and in the summer we tend to use things that will help to cool them down.”

She said some animals which eat fruit had been given their food frozen into an ice block, and the zoo’s meerkats have been eating red-coloured ices, which look like blood to them.

East Anglian Daily Times: Kune Kune pigs with sprinklers Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFFKune Kune pigs with sprinklers Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFF

“They really enjoy it. Visitors are intrigued, because it’s just like us having an ice lolly. We’ve also put out the sprinklers, because some animals love to wallow.”

She added that some animals, such as sea lions, loved the sun and were taking the opportunity to sunbathe. “But some are not used to this weather and go into the shade.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Tortoise enjoying the cool water Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFFTortoise enjoying the cool water Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFF

East Anglian Daily Times: Kune Kune pigs with sprinklers Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFFKune Kune pigs with sprinklers Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFF

East Anglian Daily Times: Ostrichs with sprinklers Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFFOstrichs with sprinklers Picture: COLCHESTER ZOO STAFF