To help animals cope with gradually increasing cold during this winter season, MC Zoological Park, Chhatbir Zoo authorities have made special arrangements to protect its newly-born three white tiger cubs and 17 Gavial (Gharials).
“Three white tiger cubs were born in July and 17 Gavial (Gharials) in June this year. Both the big cats and cold blooded reptiles are highly sensitive animals, hence, we can’t take any risk and paying special attention to these newly born animals as this is their first winter”, said Dr Munish Kumar, field director of the Zoo. Earlier Zoo had 11 common tigers and three white tigers but after this birth, the numbers have shot up and the zoo has six white tigers and eight common tigers.
Due to the fog, the zoo authorities do not allow these white tiger cubs to move outside the enclosure. “We have increased all necessary nutritional supplement as per the need to ensure their proper and healthy growth during the winter season,” added Dr Kumar. Care is also being taken of the 17 Gavial (gharials). Two years ago, around 16 newly born Gharials had died under mysterious circumstances in the Zoo premises. The authorities do not want to take any risk this time round.
All newly born 17 Gavial (Gharials), had been put under observation in the intensive care unit (ICU) at zoo round the clock since their birth and they are still there. Field director of Chhatbir Zoo, confirmed that all newly-born Gharials are healthy. He, however added that to protect these cold blooded animals from winter season is a big challenge for the Zoo authorities.
“We have put these gharials in a special enclosure made of multi-layered room at our hospital here. This room has double protection. One side of this room is made of complete airtight glass which faces sun light. Whenever, we find rough weather or foggy conditions, this glass is covered,” the Field Director said.
To maintain room temperature at 20°C to 25°C heat blowers have been set up, said Harpal Singh, Block Officer (Animal Management) at the Zoo. “We are also taking care of feed to these gharials. We are providing them live small special fishes daily from Ropar”, added Singh. Dr Kumar said that all the cold blooded reptiles, including snakes, pythons, lizards and crocodiles, have been kept in a specially maintained warm enclosures at Reptile House. Normally reptiles go into hibernation during winters. There is no metabolic activity during the hibernation, but the animals need to be keep themselves warm, hence, Zoo authority closed the reptile house for winter season for public and covered their enclosure with thick jute made sheets besides setting up heat convectors.
MC Zoological Park, Chhatbir Zoo has more than 1,100 animals, including several endangered species. Enclosures for species of birds’, deer and all big cats are sensitives, hence, special protection is being given to these birds and animals. Zoo authorities made special shelters with mats and thatched roofs for the deer enclosure, covered the birds’ enclosures with plastic sheets and set up heat convectors at big cats’ enclosures.
Besides these vitamins and minerals in their daily diet or food of these animals have been added. Special jaggery in more quantity is being provided to deer and elephants. Bears, elephants, hippos and monkeys are given papaya instead of banana, which keeps them warm. “We also feed sugarcane to the elephants and honey to chimpanzees and calcium to the young animals to cope with stress during winter season,” added Dr Kumar.
For round-the-clock observation, night vision CCTV cameras with recording facility have been installed in the animal house so that animals can be observed without any disturbance to them.