Chill Out, Tigers! How Chiang Mai’s Zoo Keeps the Big Cats Cool
In a scene straight out of a wildlife cartoon, the tigers of Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai are treating the heatwave like a sampling event for ice‑cold feasts and splash parties.
Why the Big Cats are Shifting Gears
Patchara Chanted, the tiger wrangler, says these majestic felids are all about energy conservation when the sun is blazing. “They’ll do the lazy‑cat moves most of the day—lying down, turning the corner, making sure not to burn themselves,” she explains. When the sun gets too hot, however, they start to pant like a very thirsty dog, a tell‑tale sign of trying to avoid a heat stroke.
Keeping It Cool: The “Popsicle” Plan
- Every evening, the zookeepers drop frozen chicken popsicles into the tigers’ bowls. These aren’t your ordinary ice‑cream—they’re chunks of chicken encased in ice that’ll keep their taste buds happy while also giving them a chill.
- During the hottest 15‑day stretch of the year, the tigers get a twice‑daily “cold‑food” session. Hard to imagine a tiger licking a popcorn; it’s a tad more functional.
- To add a little splash factor, the tigers are nudged into a wading pool, where they happily swat leaves and splash around like they’re playing a game of “break‑the‑peg” but with a hydraulic twist.
What the Tigers Are Saying (and How They’re Hearing It)
While the tigers are busy sipping on their icy chicken treat, they give no official statements—just those classic “grunting, relaxed eyes, and occasionally a mighty roar” signals. But you can bet they appreciate every single free‑zing bite.
Heat Stats for the Season: A Rough Pick‑Up
Temperatures are creeping up toward 35 °C (95 °F) without any hint of a rainy break. The tigers are on their toes, both literally and figuratively, as they try to mitigate the heat surge.
Bottom line: When it’s scorching hot in Thailand, the tigers are on a mission to stay cool, one frozen chicken bite at a time.
