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comfortable thought the winter. For instance, one of the rocks inside the Tiger Forest is heated to give tigers a warm, dry spot to lie down. Also, the pools in the marine mammal exhibits are temperature regulated for the animals’ comfort. Most people probably wouldn’t think of flamingos as “winter animals,” but they are perfectly well suited to colder weather. They’ll be outdoors for most of the winter. The cold temperatures are not the only concerns in the winter months. Slick conditions are also on the forefront of the zoo staff. To keep animals safe, they drain many of the water features in the animal habitats; if the exhibit conditions are too slick, they’ll keep the animals safe and warm indoors. Throughout the year, the zoo supplements their animals’ diet with trimmings from landscaping throughout the Zoo and Gardens as well as from their
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greenhouses, this makes it possible for the addition of some remarkable new raptors herbivores to enjoy leafy greens whether who’ve recently joined their flock. they’re indoors or out. Blaze is a male red-tailed hawk who They don’t just have indoor spaces was rescued as a juvenile because he for animals to stay warm in, guests too can enjoy the heat of the indoor spaces — Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center, Oceans, Deserts Dome, and Ascension St. Vincent Dolphin Pavilion — guests and animals can stay warm all winter long in these locations. And another reason to visit the Elsa, an arctic fox, enjoys the winter season. zoo this winter is the PHOTO: Carla Knapp
