Animal life has adapted over eons to cope with sun exposure, developing mechanisms such as thick skin, fur, or behaviors that provide shade. Modern animals, however, face challenges that evolution cannot easily resolve, such as zoo habitats or selective breeding that affects their skin's condition. Zookeepers have found that sunscreen can be a feasible solution for these animals, offering protection against UV rays. Indu, an Asian elephant at the Phoenix Zoo, received sunscreen treatment for her ear damage caused by sun exposure, indicating that human intervention can support animal care.
Indu, an Asian elephant at the Phoenix Zoo, suffered from sun damage on her ears due to summer heat, prompting her zookeepers to apply specially formulated zinc-oxide-based sunblock to protect her skin.
Animal life on Earth has evolved various adaptations to cope with UV exposure, including thick skin, fur, scales, and even behaviors like rolling in dirt or seeking shade.
Modern animals face additional sun exposure issues due to factors like living in suboptimal habitats or being bred for appearance rather than protection against the sun, requiring human intervention.
For some zoo animals, sunscreen has been developed as a short-term solution for managing sun problems that natural selection cannot easily address.
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