7 ways animals keep their cool in the sunshine

As the sun turns up the heat, there’s no better place to be than Whipsnade Zoo. 

For those looking for the best things to do on a sunny day, look no further than the animal kingdom for tips and tricks on how to keep cool. 

During extremely hot weather, it's worth visiting earlier in the day, and we encourage you to take advantage of our shady spots, indoor areas out of the sun, and to keep hydrated. In a heatwave you may find that some of our animals may not be visible or some areas closed - but with our new offer you can revisit another day, absolutely free! Read more on that, below.

Elephants making a splash 

Our endangered Asian elephant herd have found the perfect way to beat the heat - taking a shower and splashing about in their private pool. 

'Dust bathing' also provides a natural suncream to protect their skin from the sun's rays and helps to regulate body temperature – and our newest addition to the herd has been learning how to do it from his mum Donna and the rest of his family. 

The not-so-little one, a baby boy, is in need of a name, and we're giving you the chance to help us! Donate £5 or more for a chance to help choose his name, enjoy an unforgettable elephant experience and overnight stay. Entries close at 11.55pm on 13 July 2026, so don't miss your chance to be part of this elephant calf's story from the very beginning.

Wallabies’ refrigerating ritual  

While you might spend a sunny day licking melted ice-cream off your hands, Whipsnade Zoo’s free-roaming wallabies will have sticky paws for a different reason! Wallabies lick their forearms and then move their arms back and forth as a method of keeping cool. As the water evaporates off, this helps to reduce their body temperature.  

The wallabies are also experts at finding the shade - you'll spot them resting in amongst the vegetation around the Zoo. There are lots of shady spots for you to find too on those hot days, and plenty of picnic benches out of the sun to enjoy an ice cream or a cold drink. Plus, you can escape the sun in our indoor catering outlets, and gift shop while you browse for the perfect zoo-venir. 

Our Hullabazoo Indoor Play area also has air conditioning so you and your little ones can keep nice and cool while they play. 

Hippos’ sweaty suncream

Just like humans, pygmy hippo Tapon, also needs to protect his skin from harmful UV rays on a sunny day. But instead of slathering on suncream, hippos create their own by sweating! They secrete a reddish, oily fluid, sometimes referred to as ‘blood sweat’, which acts as protection from the sun, and even has antibacterial properties to help wounds heal. But don't worry, if you forget your suncream, you'll be able to find all of the essentials in our zoo shops, as well as sunglasses and sun hats. 

Tapon, like many of our animals, also enjoys an icy treat on a hot day and you can too - pick up your ice cream or ice lolly from our various catering outlets around the Zoo. 

Meerkats’ super sunglasses 

Move over Rayban! Meerkats have an even better way of shading their eyes from the sun. The distinctive dark markings around these fluffy mammal’s eyes act as built-in sunglasses, deflecting the rays of the desert sun and reducing glare. This helps meerkats to see their surroundings clearly – and a must for Whipsnade’s visitors when taking in the spectacular views of Dunstable’s rolling hills. 

Rhinos’ wonderful wallowing  

The Zoo’s greater one-horned rhino knows the best place to go on a sunny day in Bedfordshire! Since rhinos can’t sweat, they’ve mastered other methods to stay cool. Their favourite activity on a hot day? A good wallow in some deep, wet mud. The natural mud bath not only draws out their body heat, but also protects their skin from pesky insects and sunburn!  

Giraffes’ cooling coat

A giraffe’s patches are not only great for camouflage - they contain a neat trick that helps regulate their temperature. Tiny blood vessels under each patch help release body heat, keeping these gentle giants cool during a heatwave. And with their large necks providing space for lots of extra patches, giraffes are experts at keeping themselves cool.  

Birds’ parched panting

It’s no secret that dogs pant when they are feeling hot. But did you know that birds do it too? Birds have a complex breathing system that helps them get rid of excess heat by panting. As they pant, the airflow moves heat from inside their bodies to outside. So if you spot a Burrowing Owl, Marabou Stork, or Wattled Crane with their beaks open on a hot day, you know why!  

So if you want the perfect things to do on a hot day with kids, take it from Whipsnade Zoo’s animal experts and pant like an owl, wallow like a rhino, or lick your hands like a wallaby.  

Be sure to visit Whipsnade Zoo and witness first hand the fascinating ways our animal residents keep their cool. Not only is it a fantastic way to spend a sunny day with the family, but each ticket contributes to the vital work international conservation charity ZSL does across the globe. 

Book tickets now