At the Australian Reptile Park in New South Wales, zookeepers have been misting birds with water to keep them cool. Reptiles are being sprayed with hoses and sprinklers. Carnivores are given what the zoo calls "bloodsickles"—frozen blood that the animals can lick to keep from overheating.

As Australians face one of their hottest years on record—during the hottest month of the calendar there—social media posts have been full of images and videos of people attempting to give local wildlife some relief.

Extreme heat can take a toll on animals as well as people. As with human beings, prolonged exposure can cause heat stroke or even death, especially in vulnerable populations.

Paired with unusually high humidity, meteorologists say