Climate Threat Extreme Weather in Europe

1,100 firefighters battle forest fire in Portugal – nine injured

1,100 firefighters, 380 fire engines and eight aircraft and helicopters have been deployed to fight a large forest fire in northern Portugal, AFP reports.

10,000 hectares in the Viseu region have burned. Nine people have been injured, two of them life-threatening. A Spanish military unit has been sent to assist.

It is the first major forest fire of the season in Portugal, where temperatures are expected to reach up to 44 degrees in the coming days.

A fire is also raging in Spain on the Costa Brava in northeastern Catalonia. 2,200 hectares have burned and 150 tourists have been evacuated. Around 70 percent of the fire was under control on Saturday.

Animals Cool Down with Frozen Food and Swimming in the Heat

The recent heat waves in Europe and the United States have not only been demanding for humans – animals are also being severely affected by the heat, CBS News and the Washington Post report.

At zoos, staff have had to get creative to quickly cool down animals. Among other things, the animals' food has been frozen into blocks of ice, and popsicle-like delicacies have also been offered.

- Unlike humans, most animals do not sweat. Therefore, they have to deal with the heat in other ways. They can of course drink water. They also get rid of heat by panting, Mike Evitts, spokesman for the Maryland Zoo in the United States, tells CBS News.

Many animals also deal with the heat by resting as much as possible, bathing and staying in the shade, he continues.

There is a misconception that animals that come from warmer latitudes, such as elephants and giraffes, can tolerate the heat better. But according to experts, this is not true, as animals have the ability to acclimatize to different climates.