AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Amarillo Zoo is home to more than 120 animals from 70 species from around the world.
The zoo’s residents range from High Plains natives like bison to big cats from the other side of the planet like tigers and lions. But what happens when the cold weather hits?
“We’ll check all heat lamps, all heaters, making sure that they’re up nice and running,” said Berkeley Hilliard, Zoo Curator for the Amarillo Zoo. and then, in addition, so that the animals aren’t stuck in colder like floors and things like that. we’ll put hay down, shavings, things like that, to make sure that they are most comfortable and warm at night.” Hilliard says zoo personnel start prepping for cold temperatures before the weather arrives, and the type of prep depends on the animal.
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“We actually have a temperature gradient that we go off of. 45 degrees or higher, we will allow our monkeys, lemurs, and kangaroos out, but we will allow them access to their dens so that if they do get a little chilly, they can go to that heat source and stay warm. If it falls below 45 (degrees) monkeys, lemurs and kangaroos will actually be inside. Once it reaches that 60 mark, the 60 degrees, we will shut them outside so they are out on exhibit for good. “When it comes to like our big cats, we offer them, once it turns 32 degrees, we do offer them the chance to go outside however, we let them, of course, come back inside with the heater if they need to, and once it hits at 60 degrees, we’ll shut them out on exhibit and they play outside,” Hilliard explained. For the big boys like bison and elk, Hilliard told MyHighPlains.com that they don’t have to adjust much.
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“They’re pretty much out here 24/7, This is their weather. they love to be out here. They do have a heater down at their barn, but they probably use it about 20% of the time. So, they love this kind of weather, this is their season, and you can actually see them, once in a while, running on exhibit during this time,” Hilliard told us. Just like humans throughout the year, hydration is key for all species…