With nip in the air heralding the arrival of winter, National Zoological Park officials have prepared special diet charts and made arrangements to keep the animals warm in the biting cold by installing heat convectors in enclosures. The diet charts of animals too have been tweaked according to the changing weather patterns.
Herbivores are being served additional items like honey, sugarcane, fruits and bread while the carnivores are getting protein-rich meat and eggs to keep chill at bay. While each animal is given 10 kilos of meat during summer, during winter the ration goes up to 12 kilos.
“Just like humans, winter is feasting time for animals so the extra fat can keep them warm. It’s also easier for them to digest more food at this time,” said a Delhi zoo official. For the smaller animals, such as the hundreds of deer in the zoo, the administration is providing more amla (Indian gooseberry) in their diet. Amla is known to be rich in Vitamin C.
Delhi zoo authorities also ensure that the elephants are given their favourite sugarcane-jaggery diet while birds are provided with fish, apples and bread. Fish supply is increased during the season, especially for the pelicans, painted storks and ibis.“These animals are very sensitive to drastic temperature changes, so we have been doing these actions for some years now and every year we innovate,” said a Delhi zoo official.
Having learnt from past experiences and on the advice of experts, the zoo has made arrangements in advance to stave off chill. To protect animals, windbreakers and barriers have been erected. For animals staying out in the open, straw bales are provided to keep them warm. Wooden planks too have been installed on floors in the shelters for lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars to keep their underside warm in the shiver season.