The Crazy Ways Australia's Animals Are Dealing With Its Heat Wave
January 26, 2018—In Australia, January is peak summer, and this one's been burning hot, and hard for animals. Koalas usually get water from leaves they eat, but now they’re dehydrated. Kind Australians are providing refreshment for the parched marsupials. Echidnas, another iconic Australian mammal, are also susceptible to thirst. At the Australian Reptile Park aid to sweltering residents includes sprinklers, sprays, and treats called "bloodsickles" for carnivores. It's hottest in the Outback, but coastal areas have also suffered. A weather station in metro Sydney broke 117 degrees Fahrenheit in early January.