Spain’s drastic drop in temperature and polar winds are affecting the care of the 6,000 animals at Bioparc Valencia. The animals are given broth, herbal teas and heating to cope with the cold.
A winter protocol has been drawn up by the bioparc. This is to ensure the welfare of the most vulnerable animals, such as 2 month old baby elephant Makena.
The goal is for the animals to have good health, with a strong immune system. To achieve this, prevention is essential. That means good nutrition and ongoing care. In addition to the winter diet, which includes high-calorie nutrients and even vitamin supplements, delicious and tasty vegetable broths and hot herbal teas are now being added to the menu for species like gorillas and chimpanzees.
Comfort for all animals
The indoor enclosures, where the animals spend the hours with minimum temperatures, have several sustainable heating systems working with a biomass boiler. Depending on the needs and particularities of the specific animal species, there are radiators, heating cable floors, heat lamps and even additions such as air cannons to heat the huge volume of the elephant enclosure.
Thus, all animals, from large herbivores like giraffes to animals that hibernate like turtles, enjoy comfort.
The vulnerable primates have laced heated beds and rocks are used as ‘cooking cookers’. The animals can also go indoors whenever they want. In the special case of the baby elephant, the mother decides where they stay at any given time.
One of the most famous areas of the bioparc is the ‘Kitum Cave’. This has a large hippo aquarium set up to keep the water at the right temperature. Right next door, the crocodiles also enjoy warm water and an outdoor area with a heated floor. Even during these weather conditions that affect all of Spain, Valencia’s climate allows the animals to enjoy the sun and daylight outdoors.
