Boots the emu gets a hosedown in Adelaide Zoo as the mercury rises in southern Australia.
While many residents are flocking to the beach to escape the heat, the soaring temperatures are proving dangerous for many.
Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius - 104 degrees Fahrenheit - combined with hot dry winds are sparking spot and grass fires in many areas - and causing widespread electricity blackouts.
With cases of heat-related illnesses on the rise, the prime minister has warned people to take safety advice seriously.
Boots' companions in Adelaide Zoo are clearly feeling the heat - though park officials are doing everything possible to keep them cool.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ZOO KEEPER, ADELAIDE ZOO, JOHN DELLA, SAYING:
"You've got to make sure they've got access to fresh water, cold water, their misting systems are on, and they're comfortable."
Adelaide recorded its highest-ever temperature for Jan 1 - more than 106 degrees Fahrenheit - in more than a century, according to one newspaper report.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters