Watermelon sugar high: Indroda big cats, birds shift to juicy diet to beat the heat

Gandhinagar: Indroda Nature Park has put its wildlife safety protocols on high alert as extreme summer heat waves sweep through Gandhinagar. The reserve, which is actively managed by the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation (GEER), houses over 600 wild animals under specialised conditions.To mitigate the impact of the soaring mercury, the park administration has deployed 15 jumbo coolers and 20 water sprinklers across the property. These mechanical cooling assets have successfully driven down individual enclosure temperatures by up to 4 degrees celsius.The arrangements will remain operational until the onset of the monsoon. The nature park currently houses over 600 wild animals, including three lions, three leopards, two tigers, freshwater crocodiles, hyenas, rare birds, and reptiles.A govt statement said that in order to ensure health and well-being of animals during the summer season, veterinarians have modified their daily diet plans. To prevent bloating and digestive complications caused by excessive food intake during extreme heat, the daily food quantity for carnivorous animals has been reduced by approximately 500 grams to 1 kilogramme, depending on individual requirements.At the same time, cooling and water-rich fruits such as watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumber have been added to the diets of animals and birds to maintain hydration levels. Herbivorous animals are also being given oral rehydration powder enriched with Vitamin-C, along with multi-mineral and vitamin supplements, to protect them from heatstroke and electrolyte imbalance.