WATCH how the otters at Wildwood Escot are staying cool on the hottest July day on record

Temperatures have hit record-breaking heights today, with it being the hottest July day ever recorded. And we may still break the all-time UK record of 38.5 °C for the hottest day of the year, according to the Met Office.

Nub News contacted General Manager at Wildwood Escot, George Hyde, to find out how the animals were coping with the sweltering heat.

He said: "All our animals are very capable of dealing with our changeable weather conditions, but in extremes like today it's good to modify their enrichment accordingly.

"The otters always have access to cooling water, but on a day like today this ice-cold enrichment challenge is just the ticket."

He went on to explain how some of the other animals liked to cool off, with the wolves enjoying the occasional spray-down with a hose pipe (if in the mood!) and the wild boars taking particular fancy to a 'meat berg' of frozen blood and chunks of meat.