Summer Water Enrichment at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Description:
If you were heading up the Zoo’s main path, Olmsted Walk, on a hot afternoon, you might walk through one of the misting stations to cool off. Cool water can also offer the Zoo's animals quick relief from both the heat and the biting insects that buzz around in the summer. Bison are well suited to handle hot days (they shed their thick fur in the summer), but they often come over while keepers are hosing off their barn and wait for their turn to be hosed off too! Our sitatunga Waylon stands under a mister in his exhibit to stay cool and keep the bugs away. He will even drink the water that drips off his nose as he cools down. Ruppell’s griffon vultures take a dip in a water tub when it’s time for a cold bath.
