The rainfall on Saturday brought cheer not only to the people of the tricity but also to the animals and birds of the Chhatbir Zoo. They had been facing a heat wave with temperatures hovering above 40 degree celsius mark early this week.
The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the animals this summer to prevent heat stroke or any other disease.
Munish, Field Director of MC Zoological Park Chhatbir told The Pioneer that as the temperature has started increasing and going beyond 40 degree Celsius, special arrangements have kicked in.
“As all bears and deers are hyper sensitive, we have made elaborate arrangements for these animals. We have around one dozen bears in which seven are Himalayan bears and five are sloth bears. We have doubled the ice cubes for the bears. We are providing 100 kg ice per bear here. One ice cube of 50 kg in the morning and one ice cube in the evening so that they do not feel any climatic stress”, said Munish.
There are around 32 sambers, 10 black bucks and more than 50 cheetals and chinkaras in the zoo. Temporary shelter or huts have been erected in all enclosres of the animals to protect them from the sun — that might result in heat stroke.
Muddy shallow pool, duly filled with water has been made in the elephant enclosure, Manipur deer enclosure, Swamp deer enclosure and Deer safari for volleying and mud bath of animals. Concrete water pools are also being kept full of water round the clock. The few patches in the enclosures also have been covered with agro-net of 75 per cent for better cool effect.
Munish said Chhatbir has 11 tigers — eight Royal Bengal tigers and three white tigers, nine leopards, one Jaguar, and two lions.
“We set up 40 desert coolers and numbers of air circulator fans for the carnivores animals, including Tigers, leopards, lions, Bears and other feline/canine in their shelters during day and night times, he said.
Zoo authorities have also purchased special five water spray pumps to spray water on the tigers, leopards, lions etc to cool them or make them stress-free in the summer season.
For birds, all the cages have been covered with agro-net of 75 per cent density and jute mat, to save them from hot air and harsh sunlight to save them from heat stroke. The sprinkler showers have also been provided to pheasants and small category aviary to make them more comfortable.
Talking about dietary care, Munish said that water melons are being provided to all monkeys, bears and elephants. Glucon-D powder is being mixed to the drinking water of all the carnivores and omnivores animals, Banana has been replaced with papaya, cabbage leaves have been replaced with spinach leaves for animals and birds during summers and Reddish has been replaced with cucumber for animals and birds.
The Field Director said that the animal management cell is vigilant to make sure that the houses and night shelters remain cool and dry. All the windows have been covered with mesh to keep a mosquito free environment.
The few areas of houses and enclosures also have been shaded with 75 per cent density agro-net which helps decrease the surrounding temperature. Tankers and tractors are always in standby mode to ensure uninterrupted supply of water everywhere in the zoo in case of emergency.