The abnormally soaring temperatures have not only hit the humans but also the hapless animals forcing the Nehru Zoological Park authorities to feed them with specially prepared fluids and citrus fruits so that the animals get some relief.
With the temperatures hovering around 43 degrees Celsius continuously over the last week and prediction of heat wave continuing for the next week too, a special diet chart has been prepared for all the creatures housed in the Zoo Park here.
The animals are being fed a special diet which includes musk melon, water melon, oranges apart from grapes. Fluids like Glucose D, electrolyte powder, vitamin-C supplements, B complex supplements and thermo care liquid that are dissolved in water and given to animals everyday.
Fluids essential
“It is necessary to provide fluids and citrus fruits to help the animals sustain the heat conditions, otherwise they get ill and it could result in death,” said Nehru Zoological Park Curator V.V.L. Subhadra Devi.
A slew of other measures are being taken up by the authorities to keep sunlight and hot winds away from animals to avoid dehydration. Windows, ventilators and doors in the enclosures are covered with kashkash mats to avoid direct sunlight. The mats are watered at least three to four times to ensure that the inmates get a cool breeze.
Water sprinklers
Around 200 water sprinklers, foggers and small rain guns have been installed in all the enclosures which have also been covered with green shade nets. For bigger animals like tigers, lions, panthers, chimpanzee and monkeys around 40 air coolers have been installed in their enclosures.
Air conditioners
Air conditioners and exhaust fans have been provided in the nocturnal section where owls, mongoose, bats and other nocturnal animals are housed. “Veterinarians constantly monitor the health of animals and the caretakers have been asked not to strain the animals and birds,” Ms. Devi said. In the reptiles section a misty atmosphere has been created.
The zoo authorities say that the summer precautions will continue till the end of June. The Nehru Zoological Park is situated on 380 acres of land and houses around 1,300 animals belonging to 140 species.