As barometers around the country once again plunged to sub zero temperatures and the two legged nation struggled to cope in the snow, the animals at Drusillas Park were proving it takes more than a spot of white stuff to grind them to a halt.
Of course, the zoo team were keeping a close eye on each of the residents to ensure they were al-white, supplying extra bedding and turning up the heating within the enclosures. However, the vast majority the zoo’s 800 residents appeared largely unfazed by the cold snap.
Demonstrating the simples way to keeping warm, the industrious meerkats took no time in huddling up under their heat lamp. They also had great fun foraging in the flakes in order to find their food.
It was also business as usual at the penguin pool, with the group splashing around seemingly unaffected by the sudden drop in climate. Penguins have a thick covering of fat below the skin, as well as layers of feathers which act as an insulator, trapping the warm air within. Even Henry, the wild heron popped in to see if there was a fish supper going spare.
Capybaras, Benson and Tullula were also enjoying some extra creature comforts. Like many of the animals at Drusillas, the keepers provided them with extra bedding to help protect them from the crisp air and they spent a great deal of time huddled up under their hay.
However, racoons Jemima and Woody were keeping a very low profile. During the winter months racoons go into a state of semi-hibernation, slowly becoming less active as the temperature falls. Although the group at Drusillas do get up for meals, the majority of their day is spent sleeping, either within their indoor enclosure or outside in their nest box. In this way they are able to conserve energy, living off the fat reserves built up in their bodies during the preceding months.
However one species excelled in weathering the storms – the humans! Dedicated zoo keepers turned in, despite the blizzards to ensure their animals were all looked after and properly cared for.
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For more information please contact:
Claire Peters
Head of Public Relations
Drusillas Park
Tel: 01323 874112 Fax: 01323 874101
Email: claire.peters@drusillas.co.uk
Photo: Tori the llama steals the snowman's nose
About Drusillas Park
Drusillas Park in Alfriston, East Sussex is a small zoo where you can get nose to nose with nature. There are over 100 animal species in naturalistic environments including meerkats, penguins, monkeys, otters, bats, snakes and lemurs. For more information visit www.drusillas.co.uk
Directions – Drusillas (postcode BN26 5QS) is situated just off the A27 at Alfriston, approximately 7 miles from Eastbourne and 15 miles from Brighton.