Fruit Ice Lolly Treat For Safari Animals As Summer Finally Arrives!
30th September 2011
Safari park animals are finally enjoying a taste of summer - after they were given special ice lollies that have been sat in a freezer during the wet holiday season.
Wardens at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire spent five days making a batch of the iced fruit cocktails in June to give to the giraffes and monkeys over the warm summer months.
But the hot weather failed to arrive and was replaced by a wet July and one of the coldest August's on record.
Staff had expected to keep the giant lollies that contain frozen bananas, apples and oranges in the freezer until next year.
But as Britain basks in an unseasonal, autumnal heatwave they decided to bring them out now and give the animals a treat.
With 18 inch long tongues the Rothchild giraffes at Longleat had no problem lapping up the frozen snacks.
Deputy head keeper Ian Turner said they hung the lollies on tree branches for the animals seek out.
He said: "The lollies were made way back in June and staff had given up hope of the weather warming up enough to hang out the treats.
"But due to the lovely warm weather we have had the animals have been queuing up to cool down.
"Although these animals wouldn't normally eat such a treat in the wild they would certainly have to work hard to get their food.
"The fruit ice lollies not only give our animals a late summer cooling treat but also challenges them to search for the food using their natural adaptations."