Some animals got a cool treat at the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra on Thursday as owner Richard Tindale revealed the zoo's revenue had halved during the usually busy post-Christmas period due to the bushfire smoke and "the publicity surrounding it".
Due to forecast heatwave conditions on Friday and Saturday, the zoo will still open but some animals will get access to their dens and night houses from the early afternoon to beat the heat. Some staff will also go home early.
Mr Tindale called on the ACT Government to do more to encourage tourists to visit Canberra as the peak summer period was meant to cover the zoo, and other national capital attractions, over the slower months.
But, as penguins, sun bears, otters and monkeys, were cooled down by ice in their enclosures on Thursday, Mr Tindale said he was thankful the only real impact on the zoo had been financial.
"The impact of smoke and heat on our animals appears to have been minimal, but no doubt they would be affected to varying degrees, as we are." he said.
"Several have shown some signs of stress and these have been addressed by our veterinarians and keepers. The animals don't have the option of wearing masks for protection and our concerns are for any medium to long- term effects."
Mr Tindale said the busiest weeks of the year for the zoo were from December 26 to January 15.
"The revenue raised in this period subsides the losses of the zoo for several months. Likewise, it is also Jamala Wildlife Lodge's busiest period. Jamala subsidises the zoo for the balance of the year and raises funds for the zoo's continued expansion and improvement," he said.
This year, revenue between December 28 and January 15 fell by 49 per cent for the zoo.
"Jamala Wildlife Lodge bookings dropped by 20 per cent for January and are on track to drop even further for February," Mr Tindale said.
"There is a real concern that the publicity regarding Canberra's air quality could have an ongoing impact on Canberra's tourism and accommodation market."
Mr Tindale said he was thankful the high temperatures and bushfire smoke had so far only caused financial distress.
"And we obviously wish to see the amazing efforts of the community and government to help those directly affected, including wildlife, to continue to be the main focus," he said.
"However, any government input to bolster tourism in the ACT is appreciated by operators and by their staff, who are getting reduced shifts."
The zoo has only closed once due to weather and that was on January 4 this year, he said.
" After 2pm on Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1, due to the forecast extreme temperatures, it is giving a number of animals early access to their dens and night houses and allowing some staff to finish work earlier. This has occurred regularly in the past due to weather conditions," Mr Tindale said.
Fish Co Fish Market in Fyshwick lent a helping hand, providing boxes of ice to put in the animal enclosures as the temperature reached a high of 37 degrees.
Most of the animals who got the cool treat on Thursday were from the tropics, so snow was both a delight and a novelty.
The Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys are usually found in the hot and humid Amazon.
When the snow was tipped into their enclosure, the little monkeys immediately went digging through it, not quite initiating a snowball fight, but satisfying their curiosity. before being distracted by some tasty watermelon slices.
The Oriental Small-Clawed Otter is a native of north-west India and south-east Asia.
They had to be encouraged to play in the snow, keepers placing prawns in the white stuff to give the otters a cool down, as well as entirely new sensation.
The Little Penguins at the zoo do it tough during late summer. It's at this time they start moulting.
The loss of the feathers mean they lose some of their insulating and waterproofing capacity, meaning they tend stay on land, even during high temperatures. Although the little guys at the zoo, still went into the drink on Thursday.
Native to the southern coastline of mainland Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, the penguins re-grow their feathers in about two weeks.
The Sun Bears, which can be found in south-east Asia, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo, also enjoyed the cool treat.
Senior keeper Siobhan Block said the ice was as much about intellectual and tactile stimulation as keeping the animals cool.
"A lot of them have never experienced snow, living in Australia, so it's an unusual experience for them. They're very excited," Ms Block said.
