Keeping cool at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo With temperatures hovering around a 100 degrees, how does the zoo keep their animals cool? Watch video CLEVELAND, Ohio — It was hot, hot. So hot, Cleveland melted Thursday under a record high temperature of  97 degrees.That tied a record set in 1952, according to the National Weather Service. It was even hotter in Toledo on Thursday, where it hit 102 degrees, breaking the old record of 99 set in 1930.To cool down, Jo, Martika, Shenga, Moshi and Willy — like many other residents — got wet. But these five had an advantage over the rest of us. The elephants at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo used their distinctive big ears as fans.

“They have a lot of blood vessels close to the surface of their skin behind their ears. So, by flapping them, they pull some of the heat away from their body,” said Geoff Hall, the zoo’s general curator.

Thursday was the second day in a row and the fifth day this month that temperatures hit 90 degrees or more in Cleveland.

Expect that streak to continue, since the forecast today and through the weekend is near the 90s again, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

The zoo’s five elephants may not have been all that uncomfortable with Thursday’s weather since the southern part of Africa, where they come from, routinely has 100-plus-degree days during the summer. Still, the zoo took extra measures to help them and its other residents get comfortable.

Enlarge Plain Dealer photography staff Nora Baker, 3, of Ohio City, screams with delight as her father, Sam Baker, yells “Tidal Wave!” and sprays water at her at Rocky River Park in Rocky River on Thursday, July 21, 2011. This Nora’s first time in Lake Erie this year. The temperature hit 96 degrees. With the humidity, it felt like 108. (Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer) Cleveland sizzles with hottest day since 1995 gallery (6 photos) Keepers hosed the elephants with water and pointed sprinklers toward them. Elephants do their part as well, by covering themselves in mud during extreme heat, said Hall.

As moisture in the mud evaporates, it has a cooling effect on the animals, and the dried muck creates a protective coat against the sun.

But after the temperature reached the upper 90s by midafternoon — the thermometer finally hit 97 at 4:26 p.m. — animals weren’t the only ones in Cleveland attempting to stay cool.

The city designated eight recreation centers as cooling stations as part of its heat preparedness plan. Residents were advised to drink more nonalcoholic fluids and wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

Residents used social media to express their sweating frustrations. The heat wave became a trending topic on Twitter with one user writing: “The only thing worse than this heat in Cleveland is the Miami Heat.”

And while city officials suggested that people stay indoors or visit air-conditioned places such as shopping malls and public libraries, some people braved the heat and strolled around the zoo.

“We knew it was going to be this hot, and we still decided to come,” said Theresa Moore of Tallmadge, who was visiting with her family. “We brought ice water and put on our neckbands that stay cool all day.”

While people were sweating and complaining about the heat, Aurora — a 591-pound polar bear — opted to cool down by resting under a waterfall and swimming in her pool.

“We also give her fishsicles — icicles with fish inside — that help her cool down while she tries to get to the fish,” Hall said.

rgarcia@plaind.com, 216-999-6126

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