While the State is braving chilling temperature and people are using bonfires and warmers to keep themselves warm, the Birsa Zoo authorities in Ranchi have made elaborate arrangements for its inmates to beat the cold weather. The zoo administration has taken several preventive measures for the well being of various animals present in the zoo.
Heat convectors are installed on the zoo premises to keep the animals warm from December 1. Also, arrangements for heat curtains are made which keeps the cold wind away from the animals.
“We increase the concentration of energy supplements in the meal of herbivores. While the diet of carnivores is increased with meat maintain the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) in this season,” said zoo veterinary specialist Dr Ajay Kumar.
“The diet plan is revised as per the experts’ advice. lions and tigers are getting additional one kilo gram of meat excluding apart from the regular diet. Whereas, leopards are served with 500 grams of extra meat regularly,” he said. .
The diet of herbivores is supplemented with more of ‘mahua’ and ‘jaggery’ to maintain more of carbohydrate level in the body. The rest sheds of these animals are filled with paddy straws. These straws act as an insulator and provide warmth to these animals during night time, said Dr. Kumar.
According to zoo authorities, elephants are affected most by cold and arrangements for bonfire are done by the zoo administration across the premise.
It is noteworthy that there are many young elephants in the zoo who faces difficulty in particular due to the cold weather.
However, for snakes this is hibernation time due to which their house remains closed in during this period.
The zoo administration keeps regular check on these animals and provides them food if required. Notably, the cold blooded animals don’t require food during the period of hibernation.