PodcastCaptive animals in Turkey’s zoo cannot hibernate due to extreme heat
The captive bear family and tortoises in a zoo in Turkey’s southern Antalya province have been under stress as they could not hibernate due to the extreme heat experienced during the winter season.
In Turkey, experiencing the warmest November in the last 53 years, the effects of summer-like days continued in January as well. The captive animals in a zoo in the famous tourist destination Antalya province could not hibernate due to the unseasonably warm weather.
The weather being 22 degrees in January caused severe stress in some animals captive in the Antalya Zoo. The bear family and tortoises, which started hibernation preparations in December in previous years, live under extreme stress because they could not adjust their biological cycles to the extreme weather conditions.
Responsible Veterinary Surgeon Aygül Arsun said that many animals behave just as they during the spring weather, "We have a bear family and a turtle. In previous years, we had also other species preparing for hibernation in the same way. They did not feel the need to eat, moved less, and retreated to their winter quarters. However, this year they are more active as if they are in spring weather."
Arsun stated that the animals started to experience stress because they did not hibernate and added, "They also have biological balances. They physically expect winter weather and cold, but when this does not happen, they experience stress."