AS summer fast approaches, could this man have the city's most enviable job?

With the mercury hitting 32C in Cairns yesterday, after dropping to a steamy 25C overnight, Harbourside Coldstores manager Brian Wood and his staff found plenty of excuses to head inside the massive freezer rooms housing seafood, hampers and milk.

"It’s better than an airconditioner," he told The Weekend Post.

Weather bureau forecaster Jonty Hall said Thursday night’s minimum of 25C was the warmest night Cairns had experienced since February 16.

"It is quite humid and muggy," Mr Hall said.

As the weather warms up, zoos across the region are giving animals icy treats or hosing them with water to keep them cool.

Cairns Tropical Zoo general manager Shelagh Murphy said the zoo was using hose sprays to cool its three red pandas, two boys aged four and a girl aged eight.

The pandas are the only trio in Queensland and the zoo has a permit to breed the endangered species.

"They’ve got plenty of shade but the iceblocks melt too fast in their water so we have hose sprays that are going all the time for them when it’s hot."

Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve vet Sam Young said its Syrian brown bears felt the heat more than the other animals.

"We have big industrial fans and a large deep pool for them," Ms Young said.

Ms Young said soaker hoses had been strung on fences throughout the exhibits to keep other animals cool.

Warm temperatures are predicted throughout the weekend, ahead of a change on Monday or Tuesday.

Share this article