Another day in the Omaha heat wave, and visitors at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo were feeling it.
“It is really sticky and really hot,” said Rachel Colley.
Luckily they all came prepared.
“We are trying to stay outside this morning and then this afternoon do the indoor stuff when it is a bit hotter,” said Colley.
“Lots of water, and the splash pad at the zoo is fun, so it kept us cool for a while, and stopping under the tree for shade,” said another guest.
The zoo has mister stations for people to stop and take a break. While visitors stay hydrated, the zookeepers also have to stay safe when heat waves roll through.
“For our staff we make sure everyone is drinking water and taking care of themselves and we keep a really close eye on the animals,” said Zoo Curator Christie Eddie.
The annual zookeeper Olympics were held in a shady grass area on Friday and some of the staff got to take a break to play games.
Eddie said that they also have to make sure their animals are staying cool and those who aren't used to the heat get treated a lot like humans.
“For those that are outside we provide things like misters, extra hoses running, shade structures,” she said.
