Baghdad Zoo animals suffer from extreme heatwave temperatures

Siberian tigers are more suited to living in the cold climates of far-eastern Russia, where temperatures drop to as low as -20'C, than in Baghdad - right now one of the hottest cities in the world.

Amid a scorching heatwave that has been linked to the ongoing climate crisis, temperatures in the Iraqi capital breached 50'C this week - making life outdoors unbearable for both humans and animals, including those at Baghdad Zoo.

Underfunded and run down by years of unrest and mismanagement, Baghdad Zoo's dilapidated facilities worsen matters for its roughly 900 animals, including lions, exotic birds, bears, and monkeys.

Produced by Alexander Durie