KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2024 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

10 tons of snow, ice bring heat relief to Phoenix Zoo

Here’s a phrase you don’t expect to hear this time of year: snow day. But that’s what the Phoenix Zoo recently celebrated.

It’s not a typical sound or sight at the Phoenix Zoo. Four people feed 40 pound bags of ice into a machine that blows out 10 tons of snow.

“We’re going into our mandrill exhibit right now and we're gonna drop just about a cart full of snow in there for them,” said Tysen Marshall, a primate keeper.

Tysen Marshall delivers snow to the primate exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.
Christina Estes/KJZZ
Tysen Marshall delivers snow to the primate exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.

He delivered snow to the baboons exhibit, too.

Anna, the female, scooped a handful of snow while Moja, the male, picked at a frozen treat made of Gatorade and sprinkled with raisins, bananas and nuts.

At another exhibit, an orangutan entertained a crowd that included 12-year-old Charlie Grindle.

Visitors at the orangutan exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.
Christina Estes/KJZZ
Visitors at the orangutan exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.

“At the bottom of the popsicle, there's peanuts,” she said. “And he took one out of the thing and then brought it out of his mouth, cracked it open, and then put it back in his mouth.”

It was the first visit to the Phoenix Zoo for Joshua Becker and his 3-year-old daughter.

“We live in Mesa, but we had a trip recently to Bellingham, Washington and she loved the snow up on Mount Baker,” he said. “So we're trying to see it again a little bit here.”

Snow at the baboon exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.

Christina Estes/KJZZ
Snow at the baboon exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.

The snow pile for the African painted dogs contained red drizzles.

Linda Hardwick, the zoo’s communications director, said some animals get what they call “bloodsicles."

“It's diluted blood,” she said. “It's from the drippings from the meat. I mean, they're carnivores, so that's what they would eat in the wild anyway. They would eat carcasses, meat, blood.”

Indu, an Asian elephant at the Phoenix Zoo enjoys an ice treat filled with fruits on July 19, 2024.
Christina Estes/KJZZ
Indu, an Asian elephant at the Phoenix Zoo enjoys an ice treat filled with fruits on July 19, 2024.

Danielle Wong, the zoo’s behavioral enhancement coordinator, says animals benefit in different ways.

“It could be a manner of cooling them down. It could be a manner of presenting it with food and then they're engaging in those foraging behaviors," Wong said. "Or it could just be a manner of it's a totally new experience and they really think it's cool.”

A mandrill enjoys an ice treat at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.
Christina Estes/KJZZ
A mandrill enjoys an ice treat at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.

The tiger’s frozen treat, stuffed with fish, captured 8-year-old Kirstyn Endean’s attention.

“Well, the tiger just pawed with it and (slurping noise) like ate it. It swallowed the fish whole,” she said.

A rhino checks out snow at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.
Christina Estes/KJZZ
A rhino checks out snow at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.

It’s the third year SRP has sponsored a snow day at the zoo but Marshall says ice treats and other heat relief tools are common during the summer.

“Some of our exhibits have cooling pads where they can lay down. It's just cold water running through it. We have swamp coolers. We have misters and fans. We can also do–some of our buildings have air conditioning,” he said.

A baboon enjoys an ice treat at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.
Christina Estes/KJZZ
A baboon enjoys an ice treat at the Phoenix Zoo on July 19, 2024.

More than 3,000 animals, representing nearly 400 species, live at the Phoenix Zoo.

While visitors enjoy watching them romp around and lick bucket-sized popsicles, Wong said not everyone wants to play, and that’s okay.

Indu, an Asian elephant at the Phoenix Zoo, enjoys snow on July 19, 2024.
Christina Estes/KJZZ
Indu, an Asian elephant at the Phoenix Zoo, enjoys snow on July 19, 2024.

“Some of our animals, even if they were coming from a colder climate, they might go, I don't think so. So, behavioral enrichment, it's totally up to the animals if they choose and want to participate in engaging with it. We just like to give them that opportunity,” she said.

With temperatures well above 110 degrees, most chose to dig in before the snow melted.

As a senior field correspondent, Christina Estes focuses on stories that impact our economy, your wallet and public policy.
Related Content