How Do Tigers Beat This Summer Heat? One Word: Bloodsicles
OutdoorHub Reporters 07.23.19
It’s been a real scorcher this summer, with temps ranging from the mid 90’s to triple digits, and the heat index making it feel like a sweltering 100 to 115 degrees in some places. Now, there are many ways you can beat the heat this season, but having a large supply of popsicles on hand never hurts – even tigers enjoy special bloodsicles on a steamy hot day!
Did we just say ‘bloodsicle?!’
Yep, you read that right. It’s just one of the creative ways the Indianapolis Zoo helps their animals chill out for the summer, and it certainly appears to be their preferred flavor!
Apparently, ‘bloodsicles’ are popular among tigers in other zoos too.
According to NPR, Craig Saffoe, curator for big cats at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. said “we would eat an ice cream cone to try to cool our body down, so we give these guys a big cat version of an ice cream cone. It’s literally a block of blood, frozen, and they’ll munch that down.”
“This is the blood and remaining juice from the normal beef diet these guys get,” Saffoe went on to explain.
While the idea of a bloodsicle seems a little unnatural – and quite honestly disgusting – these cats can’t seem to get enough of the summertime “treat” during the hottest days of the year.
