VARIOUS: As Paris and Toulouse sizzle in a heatwave, animals in Madrid's zoo get ice treats

Record ID: 332959

  • Title: VARIOUS: As Paris and Toulouse sizzle in a heatwave, animals in Madrid's zoo get ice treats
  • Date: 9th July 2010
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 8, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EIFFEL TOWER WITH SUN IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF INFORMATION BOARDS WARNING OF HOT WEATHER IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH ON STREETS OF PARIS PEDESTRIANS CROSSING STREET VARIOUS CHILDREN PLAYING IN FOUNTAINS IN PARC ANDRE CITROEN, SOUTH-EASTERN PARIS WOMAN SUNBATHING VARIOUS CHILDREN IN FOUNTAINS
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Weather
  • Reuters ID: LVA38P39E2W2UFMXXKZ7XJVSNCNA
  • Story Text: France sizzled under the summer sun and children took to the city's fountains in their hundreds on Thursday (July 8) as Europe's hot weather continues.
    In central Paris, children were out in force at the Andre Citroen park, one of the few installations in the capital that provides fountains.
    On the streets of Paris, information boards in English and French warned people about the high temperatures and weather utility Meteo France also issued severe weather warnings for up to 10 departments, or counties.
    But most Parisians were enjoying the break from the grey and rain that can be the reality of the French capital for eight months of the year and were making the most of temperatures up to 10 degrees above seasonal averages.
    "It's great, it's summer. We were waiting for it and now we've got it. So it's perfect. Where you can find areas to take advantage of water the heat is bearable," one woman told Reuters TV.
    "Lots of water. Hats, glasses, cream, suncream, and we just sit in the shade," said a group of women relaxing on the grass.
    Temperatures were hottest in south-western France, where thermometers were above 35 degrees Celsius and people moved from shady patch to shady patch in Toulouse, one of the towns where authorities warned of severe heat and the the possibility of storms to come with it.
    In the Spanish capital, the animals in Madrid zoo that were getting special treatment to help them deal with the heat.
    Zoo-keepers threw the zoo's inhabitants an ice-party.
    The most popular dish on the menu for an assortment of monkeys and bears were blocks of ice containing fruit and vegetables.
    Madrid zoo's vet, Enrique Saez, said that the animals were delighted with their summer nibbles. "This is very good for them, they are very pleased. And as soon as they see us approaching with the ice creams they walk towards us. This is a very nice way to ease the effects of this hot summer," he said.
    Several Spanish regions are on alert due to the extreme heat as temperatures in many places exceed 43 degrees Celsius.
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