Fruit ice blocks were given to the animals to help them cool down as the mercury rose to more than 40 degrees.

“We do a lot of things to cool the animals down,” zookeeper Amanda Chisholm said.

“The Aussie natives are used to the temperature, but the other ­animals from different climates are not. 

“We make special ice blocks from fruit and fruit juices for them. 

“We put food like apples and corn in the freezer before giving it to the animal and with the dingoes we even make special bloodsicles, which we can put chunks of bone in.”

Bigger animals like Berani the Malayan tapir have their own pool to swim in and he even has a fan in his den for a cool afternoon nap.

Zoo keepers hosed down the cockatoos, who love the water, to keep them cool  and many of the bird enclosures have sprinklers for warmer days like Thursday.

“Some of the monkeys love to play in the water, so we get tubs and fill them to make swimming pools,” she said.

The animals get specially made ice cubes that have treats frozen inside to keep them cool and occupied throughout the day.

The zoo is preparing for a busy Christmas season with construction almost finished on the new lion enclosure.

“In the December school holidays the lions will be here,” she said.