RIO DE JANEIRO — A zoo in Rio de Janeiro has introduced ice pops for its residents, including a bear, jaguar, wolves, and monkeys, as a response to the extreme heat currently enveloping Brazil.

These chilly treats are part of a program aimed at enhancing the well-being of the animals by helping them manage the sweltering temperatures. In addition to ice pops, some animals have been provided with cooling options such as water tanks and air conditioning to help alleviate the heat.

The soaring temperatures, which have recently exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), have prompted many residents to seek relief by heading to the ocean or purchasing frozen snacks from street vendors.

At the BioParque zoo in Rio, the animal residents seem to have their own distinct preferences. “For carnivorous animals, their preferred flavor is blood,” explained Letícia Feitosa, a 30-year-old biologist. Meanwhile, herbivores enjoy frozen treats flavored with fruits or vegetables.

Onlookers enjoyed witnessing Poty, a 5-year-old black jaguar, swim energetically in a pool of cool water.

Erminda da Conceição Guerreiro Couto, a visiting biology professor, noted that providing ice pops plays a crucial role in preventing high temperatures from distressing the animals. “During hotter days, they become more fatigued, less active, and tend to be quite subdued,” Guerreiro Couto explained. “As the ice melts, they lick it off, which not only offers them meat but also adds refreshing relief.”

Reports from the National Institute of Meteorology indicate that the high temperatures in Brazil’s southeastern region are expected to decline starting Thursday. Additionally, Rio’s municipal authorities have announced forecasts of rain beginning from Wednesday afternoon.