Monkeys at Drusillas Zoo served 'frozen mocktails' to stay cool

Zookeepers at Drusillas Park near Alfriston have been pulling out all the stops and finding creative ways to keep their animals cool in the sunshine, as well as making sure they have access to additional water sources and creating extra shaded areas.

Food-layered ice lollies, containing tea, mint and edible flowers, were served to the zoo’s cheeky squirrel monkeys - who rolled them around and smashed them on stones to prise out the tasty gems hidden inside.

The cooling concoctions were also given to a number of other animals at the park, including capuchin monkeys, lemurs, coatis and binturong - each containing various combinations of vegetables, herbs and greenery.

The 'frozen mojito mocktails' include tea, mint and edible flowers

Deputy head keeper Jamie Fryer said: “We use these ice lollies to keep the animals cool in the heat because animals do not sweat in the same way humans do.

“Ultimately, the animals are after the rewards hidden within, but as they grab, lick, nibble and break down the ice lollies to get the food, their mouths and paws are cooled.

“The food hidden inside is carefully measured and taken from their normal daily food allowance so although it’s lots of fun to see them with ice lollies, they still sit within their monitored diets.

“Ice lollies are a great way to keep the animals cool, but they also serve an enrichment purpose as well. Making the animals work for their food in creative ways helps to stimulate them mentally and physically and forces them to use their instincts to look for food as they would in the wild.

Elsewhere in the zoo, animals such as the flamingos have been combating the heat by walking around their waterfall, the capybaras and beavers have been taking long dips in their pool, and the red pandas have been napping the day away in the shade of their trees.

Human visitors to the park can keep cool at the zoo’s water play adventure area, with water jets, ground geysers and spiralling sprays.