Native animals in Australia are very well adapted to hot weather and will seek out a drink and a breeze where possible.
Many do not experience the tell-tale signs of being hot, though.
Kangaroos, for example, do not sweat and need to lick themselves to stay cool.
Emma Malik, a keeper at Wild Life Sydney Zoo, explained how three of the most common native animals you might see in your backyard will beat the heat on a scorching summer’s day.
Koalas
Koalas are pretty well adapted to staying cool in summer.
“They just laze around in the shade and wait for the heat to go away.
“Those in the wild climb to the highest tree, stay there and simply wait for the heat to pass — minimal movement.”
Koalas have to sleep about 18 to 20 hours a day due to their diet.
Eucalyptus leaves are low in nutrition and toxic to most animals so to counter the poison, koalas have a low metabolic rate giving them low energy and therefore a need to rest.
At Wild Life Sydney Zoo, keepers give the koalas a helping hand and have a large industrial fan to create a breeze in their enclosure.
