Rise in mercury in the industrial town Jamshedpur has added to the woes of people but the animals in the Tata Steel Zoological Park are also feeling the heat.The Tata Steel Zoological Park has made elaborate arrangements for the animals to deal with the summer temperature.
As part of seasonal management during summer, various initiatives for the welfare of animals were undertaken by the Tata Steel Zoological Park in and around their enclosures. Some of the initiatives include drinking water provided in earthen pots and replenished twice a day for the brids. The roof of the aviary covered with straw to protect the birds from direct heat. The aviary is also covered with bamboo mats to provide shade and protect against direct sunlight. The aviary walls and floor are constantly kept wet to provide cooling effect.
“Several measures have been taken to provide every possible comfort to the animals. The zoo has deployed a team and vitamins and electrolytes are being added to the food and drinking water to prevent dehydration,” said Dr M Palit, senior veterinary of the zoo. Desert coolers have been installed in the Mandrill enclosure. Drinking water is replenished twice a day. The lifting gate of night shelter is kept open so that animals can get into the shelter if they wish to. The animals are given a bath twice a day — once in the morning and once in the evening. Anti-stress medicine mixed with water is being provided.
The kraal area had been covered with straw and bamboo mats to protect the animal from direct sunlight and to provide shade.
Pond is kept full of running water at all times to maintain depth in Marsh Crocodile and Gharial enclosure. Straw and bamboo mats have been provided in Indian Star Tortoise enclosure to ensure shade and to protect from direct sunlight.
The foundation stone of Tata Zoo was laid in 1990 and its gates were opened for visitors on March 3, 1994. The zoo is nestled inside the Jubilee Park and has two wetlands on either side, the Subarnarekha River in its north and Jayanti Sarovar in south. Both these wetlands are famous for winter migratory birds. The zoo is spread over an area of 40 hectares with beautifully landscaped gardens interspersed with small forest patches. The prime motto of the zoo during the last two decades of its operation has been to preserve wild flora and fauna and help them propagate in captivity.