Rome zoo animals get 'fruity' holiday treat
With August temperatures topping 40C, the president of Rome's zoo has called for animals to be fed refreshing watermelon. View The Local's gallery of feeding time at the zoo.
On August 15th, Italy’s ferragosto bank holiday, staff at the Biopark of Rome will be dishing out the pink fruit to animals large and small.
These include the park’s 90 macaque monkeys, four chimpanzees and lemurs.
While monkeys are well-versed at fruit feasts, the same cannot be said for Sofia the elephant who may need some help.
The treat may also come as a surprise to Sandro, Nino and Luca, the park’s three brown bears.
While the animals will not be able to enjoy the family feasts happening across Italy on Thursday, they will at least have a nutritional lunch.
According to watermelon.org, the fruit is full of vitamins A, B6 and C, which will help the animals see better and fight off disease.
Watermelons are also 92 percent water, helping rehydrate the animals.
This should come as welcome news for Pipa and Mimi, as the hippos spend most of the day in the water to avoid the city’s heat.
View the gallery of Rome’s animals enjoying their fruity snack.
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On August 15th, Italy’s ferragosto bank holiday, staff at the Biopark of Rome will be dishing out the pink fruit to animals large and small.
These include the park’s 90 macaque monkeys, four chimpanzees and lemurs.
While monkeys are well-versed at fruit feasts, the same cannot be said for Sofia the elephant who may need some help.
The treat may also come as a surprise to Sandro, Nino and Luca, the park’s three brown bears.
While the animals will not be able to enjoy the family feasts happening across Italy on Thursday, they will at least have a nutritional lunch.
According to watermelon.org, the fruit is full of vitamins A, B6 and C, which will help the animals see better and fight off disease.
Watermelons are also 92 percent water, helping rehydrate the animals.
This should come as welcome news for Pipa and Mimi, as the hippos spend most of the day in the water to avoid the city’s heat.
View the gallery of Rome’s animals enjoying their fruity snack.
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