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Summer is here and the fun in the sun has begun! As the temperatures rise and the days get hot, we keep cool however we can—a dip in the pool, frozen treats and plenty of shade. Our wild and wonderful animals are no different, except they rely on our care to beat the heat.
As the heat rises in Colorado, the challenges for our Animal Care team who look after 2,500+ animals continue to grow. Our staff is working hard at finding new ways to keep our animals cool during the hottest months of the year. Air-conditioned indoor spaces are available to cool off, but unsurprisingly, our wild animals do want to be outside—and we want that for them!
From fans and misters to ice machines and blood popsicles, our Animal Care Specialists are dedicated to coming up with creative ways to keep our residents comfortable in the heat of the summer while also providing fun and beneficial enrichment.
Check out these three unique ways our Animal Care Specialists help keep our animals extra cool and comfortable all season long!
Blood Popsicle, Anyone?
Our Animal Care Specialists love coming up with creative ways to keep our tigers cool in the summer heat, including making meat and blood popsicles!
Popsicles made of frozen blood and meat may not sound appetizing to us, but our big cats sure do love them, especially because they provide mental stimulation. A donation of $100 can provide our tiger with her favorite “bloodsicles.” Sounds delicious…at least if you’re ChloJo!
Rub-A-Dub-Dub, Three Hyenas in a Tub!
Who’s up for a cold plunge? Our spotted hyenas, Ngozi, Kelele and Tavi are—and don’t forget the bubbles! Treat our hyena pack to a sudsy spa day with a nice, cold bubble bath to clean up and cool off. Bubble baths also serve as enrichment, as hyenas like to hide things in water and come back to them later. Our Animal Care staff hides fun items for the pack to find and ups the challenge level by making the items hard to see. Whenever the suds come out, the pack gets extra excited to play! For just $48/month you can provide tubs of bubs for our spotted pack of three. If you’re a big fan of bubble baths, we’ve got some well-pampered hyenas who totally agree.
Throw Shade at Our Flamingos
Because wild animals want to be outside as much as possible, shade is the gold standard for keeping animals cool when the summer sun is hot. While our Horticulture team continues integrating trees into new and current habitat designs, some of our habitats require unique shade solutions, like a custom shade sail. These shade sails require concrete caissons, structural steel for poles, the shade material and installation. Installing custom sails is a big-ticket item at $65,000 a pop, but every little bit helps! Keep our flock fabulous and donate any amount today.
As a non-profit organization, your donations continue to provide world-class care for all our animals, including keeping them extra cool and comfortable all season long.
Follow Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn for updates on our incredible animals!
@DenverZoo in the Wild
🐧 Lucy has beaten the odds twice.
When she hatched in October 2024, Lucy spent her first weeks in the ICU battling a respiratory illness, hand-reared by our Animal Care and Veterinary Medicine teams with specialized treatment and round-the-clock support. She recovered fully and made her home at African Penguin Point.
More recently, Lucy suddenly presented in respiratory distress with neurologic signs that alarmed her care team. Our Veterinary Medicine team stabilized her quickly, and a suspected anaphylactic reaction (one of the rarest occurrences in birds) sent her back to the ICU for more than a month of daily treatments, tube feedings, and painstaking patient care.
She`s now back home, reintegrating with her flock and already giving Animal Care Specialists a run for their money. That`s our girl. 🐧
Stories like Lucy`s are only possible because of the dedicated partnership between our Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care teams, who showed up when she needed us the most. Thank you for everything you do.
#AfricanPenguin #DenverZooConservationAlliance #AnimalCare #VeterinaryMedicine #SavingWildlifeTogether
It’s the end of #NationalZookeeperWeek and to every Animal Care Specialist at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, thank you. Thank you for the early mornings, the patience, the creativity, the grief, the joy, and the unwavering dedication to the animals in your care. You are the heart of Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. Thank you for showing us what it truly means to save wildlife together. 🐾🤍
Due to forecasted extreme heat tomorrow (Sunday, July 26), we`re opening early at 8:00 a.m. so you can enjoy the Zoo during the coolest part of the day. ☀️
Here`s what to know before your visit:
• The Zoo will be open from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. for both members and the general public.
• Timed entry reservations are suspended for the day, and all admission tickets will be honored at any time during operating hours.
• Outdoor animal demonstrations will conclude at 12:00 p.m.
• Lorikeet Adventure, Stingray Cove and Primate Panorama Forest Aviary will remain open as scheduled. Pre-scheduled tours, education programs, private events and paid animal encounters will continue as planned.
The following attractions will close at noon:
• Denver Zoo Railroad
• Conservation Carousel
• Gorilla Trek
• Wallaby Way
• Food and beverage snack carts and kiosks (excluding Dippin` Dots). Please note, restaurants will remain open throughout the day.
Need a break from the heat? Cool off in our climate-controlled Chill Zone in Zoo Gardens or Wild Tales Theater (4D Theater).
We recommend arriving early, staying hydrated and planning for a hot day. You can read some more hot weather tips at the link in our bio!
We are deeply saddened to share that Hagrid, our six-year-old Critically Endangered Bactrian camel, passed away on July 21.
Earlier this week, our Animal Care and Veterinary Medicine teams noticed that Hagrid was showing signs of gastrointestinal discomfort and immediately began monitoring him. He received a physical examination, and teams provided supportive care and pain medications while working to determine the cause of his discomfort. Despite their best efforts, Hagrid passed away in his habitat on Tuesday evening.
Initial necropsy results revealed that Hagrid had a stomach ulcer that had gone through the stomach wall near the exit of his stomach. The examination also indicated a possible displacement of his third stomach chamber, which may have impacted the normal movement of food through his digestive system. These findings indicate why there was such an acute onset of clinical signs and death.
Born on April 17, 2020, at Hemker Park Zoo, Hagrid arrived at DZCA in July 2020 alongside his habitat mate, Sprout, when he was just three months old. From the moment he arrived, he quickly became a favorite among staff, volunteers, and guests. During the uncertainty and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, his playful personality and goofy spirit brought comfort, connection and joy to so many people across our Zoo community.
While Hagrid’s passing was heartbreaking, we are grateful for the dedicated care and compassion our Animal Care and Veterinary Medicine teams provided throughout his life and in his final days. They immediately jumped into action and did everything they could to understand what was happening and to support him. Sprout is being closely monitored and supported by her care team. While losing a companion can be a change for an animal, her care team is watching her closely and do not have concerns about her physical and mental health at this time.
This magical camel will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing and caring for him. We are grateful for the memories Hagrid gave us and for the joy he brought to DZCA. You can read the heartfelt reflections from those who knew and loved him best at the link in our bio.
