Mexico heat wave: Birds get air-conditioning

MEXICO CITY, June 09 (AP): Amid Mexico's heat wave and drought, suffering birds are getting air-conditioning and monkeys with heatstroke are being rescued by non-governmental groups.

The government, meanwhile, has been more preoccupied with cooling down animals at state-run zoos, giving lions frozen meat popsicles.

On the steamy Gulf coast, an animal park has set up air-conditioned rooms for eagles, owls and other birds of prey.

On May 9, temperatures in that area soared to around 120 degrees (50 Celsius), and rescuers and staff brought in 15 birds of various species that were found lying on the ground.

Ena Mildred Buenfil, leader of the animal rescue group Selva Teneek, said birds - like the howler monkeys - are simply dropping dead.

"The birds started having problems, and some of them literally started dropping dead in flight," Buenfil said.