Gaziantep Zoo prepares special winter menu for animals

GAZİANTEP – Anadolu Agency

A special winter menu has been prepared for animals, especially those from hot climates, at the Gaziantep Zoo. The animals fed with vegetables and fruits with high-level vitamins and minerals are also given energizing foods such as figs, dried grapes and nuts. 

In terms of size and the number of animal species, the Gaziantep Zoo is Turkey’s largest, Europe’s second and the world’s fourth largest zoo. The zoo has started working on keeping its animals warm as the winter cold gets harsher every passing day. 

Home to some 7,500 animals in 330 species, the zoo has taken special measures to protect African-origin animals from the cold weather. Heaters have been placed where elephants, leopards, chimpanzees, jaguars, giraffes and zebras are, while floor heating systems have been set up for snakes and crocodiles. Besides these measures, menus have also been renewed. 

The head of the Gaziantep municipality’s Association for the Protection of Natural Life, Celal Özsöyler, said the zoo was very significant for the city because visitors visited the zoo not only in summers, but also in winters.  

Room temperature above 15 degrees Celsius

“They [animals] are affected by the cold the most in winter. Their room temperature should not be below 15 degrees Celsius. We conduct necessary checks all the time,” Özsöyler said.  

All the animals have to eat protein-rich food and take vitamins to make them resilient to the cold, he added.