Icy treat &#8211; Madrid Zoo serves frozen fruit snacks to help animals beat the heat

Keeping cool during Spain’s scorching summer

Madrid’s Zoo Aquarium is helping its animals cope with soaring summer temperatures by serving species-specific frozen treats, providing cooling showers and access to pools as Spain continues to endure intense heat.

Footage filmed on Thursday shows giant pandas and an orangutan eating fruit-filled ice cakes and watermelon.

Pandas Enjoy Ice Cakes And Cooling Showers

“We have prepared some ice pops so they can cool off a bit with the high temperatures,” said panda keeper Maria Alfaro.
She said the frozen treats contain watermelon, apples, grapes, pumpkin, and bamboo leaves.
Alfaro added that the pandas also have access to multiple cooling measures.

“They have places to bathe, they have a small pool to swim in, we give them water showers, and they have air conditioning inside the enclosure,” she added.

Baby Orangutan Marks Three-Month Milestone Amid Heatwave

The event also marked a milestone for Sela, the zoo’s Bornean orangutan, who turned three months old on Thursday.
“We hold events like this every week, but today is a special day,” zoo veterinarian Eva Martinez said, adding:

“Today Sela turns three months old, so between the heat and her three-month birthday, they have tropical fruit ice cakes and special games.”
Spain is experiencing a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40°C in several parts of the country, particularly during June and early July 2026.

Article by Viory.