Animals Enjoy a Snowy Day at Drusillas Park

Zoo Keepers at Drusillas Park in Alfriston are working hard to keep the animals at Drusillas comfortable in the snowy conditions. However, Zoo Animal Manager, Mark Kenward, said it’s actually the hot weather that brings them more of a challenge!

“Although the cold weather can make life more difficult for us humans, it’s actually easier keeping most of our animals warm than it is trying to cool them down when the weather is hot!” said Mark.

He continues, “When the temperature drops, we ensure all of our animals have adequate heating and provide them with extra food and hay if it’s needed.”

Keepers at the park will be paying extra attention to animals with a smaller body mass, including the small monkeys, birds and the babies at the park. Blankets are on standby for the animals who feel the cold the most and the heating is being cranked up around the zoo.

Some animals thrive on the cooler conditions, for example red pandas Mulan and Anmar who are originally from the Himalayan Mountains of China, India and Nepal and are well suited to colder climates.

Mark said: “Red pandas use their big fluffy tails as blankets to keep themselves warm when it’s cold outside; so you can see Mulan and Anmar up in the trees today, having a nap with their tails curled around them for warmth.”

These beautiful creatures thrive in the cold and are perfectly equipped to deal with icy conditions thanks to their long, thick fur and big bushy tails. Red pandas even have a thick layer of fur on the soles of their feet to help keep them warm when they walk on the snow.

Other animals such as the beavers and prairie dogs will keep themselves tucked away in their lodge or underground in their burrows while the temperatures are on the cooler side.

The camels, who originate from Mongolia and surprisingly, the beautifully pink Chilean Flamingos, can be seen enjoying the snow, making the most of it before it melts away!