Keeping Our Chimpanzees Cool in the Summer Heat

The Risshū, or Beginning of Autumn, has already passed in the Japanese calendar. Compared with the scorching heat we experienced in July, when temperatures came close to 40°C (104°F), it feels a little more bearable now. That said, there's no doubt that the hot days will continue.

To help protect our chimpanzees from the intense summer heat, we have been taking a variety of measures. First, the indoor areas are kept at a comfortable temperature with air conditioning, and the chimpanzees are free to move in and out as they please. They seem to enjoy the cool floor, and can often be seen sitting or lying down on it to relax.

Some chimpanzees prefer to spend time outdoors in the shaded, breezy areas.

We have also installed misting fans outdoors to create more cool areas. Chimpanzees generally do not like getting wet, and many of them even avoid being directly sprayed by the fine mist. Chloe, however, is an exception. We often see her coming over to sit in the mist and enjoy the cool air. Each chimpanzee chooses where to cool down according to their own preferences and how they are feeling at the time.

The chimpanzees have free access to drinking water. During hot weather, staff also offer them additional water. We do this while carefully observing each chimpanzee and communicating with them. They seem to enjoy these interactions, and offering water also provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen our relationships with them.

We sometimes offer frozen fruit as a special summer treat, too. We freeze blueberries and Japanese plums (sumomo) harvested here at the Institute. The chimpanzees love these refreshing treats! (You can also read about our homegrown sumomo in our previous blog post, "Summer Treats.")

In fact, the most popular food among the chimpanzees at the Institute is watermelon and it is a special treat they get to enjoy only in summer!

With special treats and a variety of ways to keep cool, we hope to help our chimpanzees stay comfortable and happy through the remaining hot days of summer.