The dogs, which recently arrived from Australia, where temperatures are currently hovering around 30 degrees Celsius, were having trouble adapting to Shanghai's chilly winter before the new coats arrived.

"They curled up in the corner," said Pan Xiaogan, who looks after animals at the park. "But after they were put on the new coats, they started to frolic again."

The Aussie dogs could become star attractions at the park next year, when it introduces greyhound racing.

With both the park and the Shanghai Zoo flourishing, they are able to take better care of all their animals, installing more heaters and providing better food than in the past when they could only pay special attention to a few prized residents.

Mandrill, a fierce baboon from western Africa, is the happy recipient of a new electronic heater that keeps his enclosure a comfy 20 degrees Celsius.

Similar heaters have also been set up in the habitats of several cold-blooded animals such as snakes.

(eastday.com December 31, 2002)