Busch Gardens animals beat the heat

Pictures by Matt Mariot/Busch Gardens

These animals know what to do to stay cool...

As the temperature swells in the Tampa Bay area, Busch Gardens animals are doing what comes naturally to beat the heat.
Because most species in the park are native to Africa or other tropical or sub-tropical climates, they have natural adaptations and behaviors to help them thrive in high temperatures. Hippos and Asian small-claw otters spend time in the water to cool off. Rhinos wallow in mud pits to beat the heat.
Also helping the animals to stay cool are the naturalistic habitats at Busch Gardens. Lush forests, waterfalls, rocky overhangs and plunge pools in exhibits such as Myombe Reserve, Jungala and the Edge of Africa mimic the animals’ environments in the wild, providing shade in the summer and sunny areas in winter.
For more information on Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, visit www.BuschGardens.com.