Heat hits Chiang Mai zoo
Chiang Mai zookeepers sprayed down cages and handed out ice creams and frozen meat to their animals on Tuesday as the mercury topped 40 degree Celsius in the northern capital.
When the temperature hit 38C, five water trucks were quickly despatched and zookeepers rigged up temporary shade screens, drew extra water supplies and installed sprinklers in some cages housing animals particularly prone to heat stress.And today is tipped to be even hotter. Zoo public relations chief Rossukhon Juikhamwong said constant sprays were set up in the panda viewing zone and the roof of their enclosure periodically soaked with water. Zoo veterinarian Kwanreun Duangsaard said the animals were being given special foods, such as frozen tuna for the penguins, frozen meat for tigers, ice cubes for elephants and icecream for the orangutans. Everyone at the zoo was on the lookout for telltale signs of frustration among the animals, so they could be separated if need be, said Kwanreun. Meteorological Department officials had previously tipped tomorrow to be the Kingdom's hottest this year, solely for the reason that the sun would be directly above Bangkok at noon . But now, with changes on the way from China, officials are saying today might be the hottest day of the year. An official at the Weather Forecast Division said 40C in the North was normal for this time of year, because of the orbital movement of the Earth around the sun. Chiang Mai is particularly affected because it sits in a geographical bowl, surrounded by mountains, which tend to make the city extra hot during the day, but cool at night. The Nation
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