Hanoi zoo turns up the heat as cold spell freezes city
Thursday, January 03, 2019, 11:48 GMT+7
The largest public zoo in Hanoi is looking at every possible option to make sure it keeps its animals warm amidst a cold spell that has had temperatures hitting lows of 15 degrees Celsius.
Thu Le Zoo, built in 1976, spans nearly 29 hectares in Ba Dinh District, five kilometers west of downtown Hanoi.
Over the past few weeks, zookeepers have been working 24 hours a day to ensure the animals are getting the heat they need to survive the capital’s long cold winter.
Video: Tuoi Tre
Bonfires at the zoo are being maintained at all times inside enclosures where hot-climate animals such as deer and hippos are kept.
Larger animals, like elephants, that typically dwell in larger, more open areas have had their habitats covered in order to guard against the chilling winds ripping through the zoo’s grounds.
Six high-power heaters have also been installed near the elephant, lion, bear, and tiger enclosures at the zoo in order to keep temperatures at a reasonable level.
Special foods with high nutrient and vitamin content are added to the animals’ diet on especially cold days to help improve their strength and immunity systems, according to Nguyen Danh Cuong, deputy director of an enterprise charged with ensuring the animals’ welfare.
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| A zookeeper adjusts the temperature on a heater outside the lion enclosure at Thu Le Zoo in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Large canvases shield the elephant enclosure from biting winds at Thu Le Zoo in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Hippos swim in muddy water at Thu Le Zoo in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A zookeeper adjusts the temperature on a heater outside the tiger enclosure at Thu Le Zoo in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A lion rests inside its enclosure at Thu Le Zoo in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A zookeeper feeds an elephant at Thu Le Zoo in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A heater is installed outside an enclosure at Thu Le Zoo in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A flock of goats gathers near a fire inside their enclosure at Thu Le Zoo in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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