Photo/Illutration An alpaca enjoys the breeze from a fan. (Provided by Ichikawa City Zoo)

Even amid the sweltering heat, wallabies, native to hot Australia, were nowhere to be seen at the Edogawa Ward Natural Zoo in Tokyo. 

On July 29 at 2 p.m., elementary school students were observing the wallaby house from under a shady tree at the zoo. 

At first glance, they did not see any wallabies. But one student called out, “It’s over there!”

A wallaby was positioned in the shade, located between the door leading to the air-conditioned sleeping room and the outdoor playground. It squinted its eyes and stared out.

“When it’s hot, we make sure our wallabies can return to the sleeping room at any time,” said Sanae Kawamura, a zookeeper.

“Wallabies, who don’t sweat, sometimes lick and dampen their arms to regulate their body temperature,” she said.

As record temperatures are recorded across Japan, zoos are taking measures to prevent heatstroke for their animals.

At the Edogawa Ward Natural Zoo on July 29, the backs of three giant anteaters were also wet. They were being sprayed with a mist.

The zoo installed a fan this year for its birds in the non-air-conditioned exhibition room.

On hot days, the birds flutter their feathers, indicating to zookeepers that they need a shower, the zoo said.

A snowy owl, which is sensitive to heat, has been taken out of exhibit and is spending its time in an off-exhibit area.

In June, Ichikawa City Zoo and Botanical Garden in Chiba Prefecture sheared the hair of six alpacas.

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An alpaca enjoys the breeze from a fan. (Provided by Ichikawa City Zoo)

“Alpacas are animals from the highlands of South America,” said Shunpei Miyakoshi, a zookeeper. “Their fur protects their bodies from the cold, so it is very dense.”

The zoo also installed two fans two years ago.

“The six alpacas enjoy the fans evenly without fighting,” Miyakoshi said.

At night, the alpacas sleep in a room that is kept at a comfortable temperature of about 24 degrees.

Even during daytime when it is extremely hot, they are put in the sleeping rooms.

Other measures include spraying a cooling mist in the orangutan house and leaving the water running in the meerkat house, the zoo said.

At Chausuyama Zoo in Nagano city, one of the popular summer events is watching an elephant named Fuko bathing.

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An elephant named Fuko bathes in the water. (Provided by Nagano Chausuyama Zoo)

In July, part of the elephant house is filled with water.

Fuko lies down in the water, swinging her trunk. She seems to be happy as the water cools her body, the zoo said.

“It depends on Fuko’s mood, but sometimes she seems to really enjoy it,” said Tatsuhiko Yamakami, a veterinarian.

In the guinea pig house, frozen plastic bottles and cold aluminum plates are being placed.

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An elephant named Fuko lies down as she is showered from a hose. (Provided by Nagano Chausuyama Zoo)

The Phoenix Zoo in Miyazaki city also ensures that each animal’s playground has an area that is not exposed to direct sunlight.

On one occasion, a llama, which is commonly bred in the Andes, suffered from heatstroke. Zookeepers wrapped it in a blanket soaked in water and a lot of ice was brought from restaurants.

“In severe cases, llamas may need an intravenous drip,” said Masato Takeda, 64, the head of the zoo.

“Animals have high adaptability, so even animals from highlands can sometimes get used to Japan’s heat,” he said. “But efforts to make animals comfortable are still absolutely necessary.”

The zoo takes another measure in summer, putting socks on donkeys.

From around May to September, donkeys can be attacked by cattle flies, also known as blood-sucking flies. In particular, they target donkeys’ legs.

Until recently, zookeepers had wrapped their legs with therapeutic bandages. But this year, they could purchase protective coverings for the animals thanks to donations from companies and citizens.

Aren't the coverings hot as well?

“Donkeys are resilient to heat. We’re more afraid of the flies,” Takeda said.

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