FORT WORTH, Texas (KTVT) — As winter climate blankets North Texas, the Fort Price Zoo is taking particular steps to make sure the security of its animals.
The zoo skilled varied sorts of precipitation on Thursday, together with snow, rain, sleet and freezing rain. Regardless of the difficult situations, employees members are diligently working to maintain the animals secure.
Most of the zoo’s animals will not be accustomed to such chilly climate. “We could also be somewhat chilly, however they’re good and comfy immediately,” mentioned John Griffioen, assistant director of animal packages on the Fort Price Zoo.
Griffioen defined that preparations for winter climate started months upfront. “Meaning checking issues like warmth bulbs, heaters, water heaters, and all of that to verify when chilly climate arrives prefer it does yearly, we’re good to go,” he mentioned.
Particular precautions are being taken to make sure that animals whose pure habitats are hotter, corresponding to elephants and giraffes, stay secure. “They’re all inside immediately. Their barns are all good and heat, and their keepers are paying shut consideration to them,” Griffioen mentioned.
Sure animals, corresponding to geese and penguins, are comfy within the chilly, however further steps are nonetheless being taken to maintain them heat. “Animals that can have entry to open air might have further bedding like our wolves, so their den containers are good and heat,” Griffioen mentioned. “Then we verify all of the habitats and ensure everybody’s doing properly.”
Some employees members are spending the evening on the zoo to take care of the greater than 7,000 animals. “That features our diet division, our veterinary division, our animal division, in addition to safety in order that they’re right here on grounds if roads are actually unhealthy tomorrow and it’s onerous to get in, we all know the animals will probably be taken care of,” Griffioen mentioned.
Engineers are additionally monitoring heaters and pipes in a single day. The zoo was closed to the general public on Thursday, and employees will assess situations on Friday morning to find out whether or not to open.
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