Udaipur : The soaring temperatures have not only hit the human life,but also making days miserable for the hapless animals in zoo. Forest authorities at the Sajjangarh Zoological Park here are taking varied measures to keep the inmates cool. Increased fluid diet, citrus fruits, electrolyte mixed water etc are to to name a few apart from setting up of coolers inside the holding areas, green shade nets, water sprinkling in the display areas and artificial water points and mud points so that the animals keep themselves cool throughout the day.
“There is not much deviation in the diet for animals, however, keeping in view the heat, the bears are being given honey, icecream, water melon occasionally. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapes,musk melon too are being given to monkeys” DFO Harini V. told Udaipur Kiran. Leaving the white tiger, rest all of the animals are natives of the land and hence they are acclimatised to the heat naturally. However, the white tiger which has been brought from Chennai zoo is being taken special care, Harini said. The animals before being taken to the display area are given a spray shower every morning and their display areas are well sprinkled with plenty of water so that the temperature is lesser. ” Every holding area has atleast 3-4 coolers that run throughout the night when the animals are inside and in off days when the animals are not taken to the display area, they have the cooling system throughout the day” she informed.
With the temperature hovering around 43 degrees continuously, zoo authorities have set up wallowing points,water and mud points so that the animals cover their bodies with mud in order to lessen the effect of heat. There are artificial water holes set upinside the display area too and most of the animals are seen lying inside the water pool in order to combat the heat.” The veterinary doctor visits the zoo daily these days so to keep a check that the animals are not dehydrated or ill. If any animal is found to be dull or inactive, we mix electrolyte powder in their drinking water so as to save them from dehydration which is the most common problem in summers” Rahul Bhatnagar, Chief Conservator of Forest (Wild Life) informed.