PHOENIX – As residents of the Valley prepare for weekend stormsjust like the animals at the Phoenix Zoo.
Many animals are now hidden until the storms pass. FOX 10 got a first-hand look at the zoo’s process.
What we know:
Some animals Phoenix Zoo having the luxury of staying outside when a storm is expected overnight. Other animals must be brought inside, leaving their outdoor habitat empty. Take Raja the Tiger, for example; he enjoys his time inside and has dinner.
“He’s just going to be very comfortable here during the storm,” said Joaquin Hidalgo of the Phoenix Zoo. “There will be early morning access once we return and we will make sure everything is nice and secure.”
Hidalgo explained that giraffes also stay indoors during storms for several reasons. “Giraffes are actually susceptible to being struck by lightning because their heads are so high in the sky. If there’s lightning in the area, they actually have to go inside… We also don’t want a giraffe to slip and hit their head because their head is almost 20 feet in the air, so a trip for them could be deadly.”
The Phoenix Zoo takes no chances when it comes to caring for these animals.
Raja the Tiger at the Phoenix Zoo
“We follow the 30/30 rule”
“Once we find out there’s going to be a chance of a storm, we apply the 30/30 rule,” Hidalgo said. “So 30% chance of rain, 30% chance of high winds. We’re starting to put in place our storm access protocols so keepers know, ‘OK, the animals will need to be locked in overnight and given access tomorrow morning.’ But yes, everyone is ready. It’s pretty much a clock for everyone now. »
Hidalgo says the zoo is open rain or shine, and it’s rare for the zoo to close due to weather.
“Our team there, whether it’s operations or zookeepers, are going to stack a lot of sandbags and make sure that, you know, the things that are on the ground that we don’t want to get wet, we lift them up,” Hidalgo said. “But almost all habitats are designed to withstand storms like Phoenix, so we don’t have to worry too much.”
Interesting fact: It’s best to come to the zoo when it’s raining, because that’s when the animals are most active.
