At Philadelphia Zoo, Some Animals Thrive in Frigid Weather, Others Manage With Some Help
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Heated rocks and hot tubs are some of the ways the Philadelphia Zoo is helping its animals keep warm during today's frigid temperatures.
This morning's low temperature in Philadelphia was 11 degrees. The high temperature forecast was right around freezing.
Some species can endure the cold weather. Polar bears, for instance, were stretching out today by the outdoor pool, and the penguins (top photo) were looking fairly content doing what penguins do.
The amur leopard, found in Northeast Asia, can also withstand frigid temperatures. But despite that, the zoo's amur, Emma, today decided to enjoy the day on a slab of faux rock in her outdoor space that has an electric heating element hidden inside.
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"Big Cat Falls has heated rocks for the leopards or jaguars," explains Jason Bell, a zoo curator, "and the manned wolves have a heated cave. The otters have a heated pool, so the pool stays nice -- like a sauna, like a hot tub," he said with a laugh.
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The heat in the outdoor enclosure for the pride of African lions is temporarily on the fritz, but today, the four seven-month-old lion cubs ventured outside when their keeper sprayed a treat of milk through the fence.
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Mom kept a watchful eye, but dad stayed inside, where it was warmer.
