Hyderabad's zoo residents know just how to beat the heat

Leaning against an old tamarind tree near a pool, 26-year-old Suji, the resident chimpanzee at Nehru Zoological Park, seems relaxed. Sipping coconut water with a straw, oblivious to the curious onlookers, she closely keeps a watch on Sita, the elephant, and her pachyderm friends, Asha, Rani, Vijay and Jamuna, from the corner of the eye, as they get set to take a dip into a newly-made pool inside their enclosure.A few yards away, a visibly relieved Shankar, one of the 22 tigers in the park, slowly shakes his coat dry after coming out of his pool, and shuffles towards the cage. the murderous heat wave has been roasting the rest of Hyderabad this summer, but it seems like the zoo inmates have learned to cope with it, and how!
RAIN GUNS FOR BIG ANIMALS; FOGGERS FOR REPTILES
The zoo authorities have left no stone unturned to ensure the 160 species housed in the 380-acres precinct are summer proof. From setting up air coolers, sprinklers, foggers, shade nets and khus-khus mats to helping the animals switch to a summer-friendly diet complete with health supplements, the management has taken every measure to provide respite to the inmates. “The MeT department had issued the heat wave warning a long time ago, so we’ve been well prepared to ensure the animals don’t suffer any heat strokes or develop health complications. Our hospital wing too is on its toes, paying regular visits to all animals,” says Shivani Dogra, curator of the zoo.
Keeping in mind some sensitive animals which require special attention during summer, close to 40 air coolers have been installed and many enclosures have been covered with khus mats. “Air coolers have been installed at the enclosures of bigger animals like lions, tigers, chimpanzees and monkeys, while owls, mongoose and bats are provided with air conditioners as well as exhaust fans. We water the khus-khus mats at least three to four times a day to keep the enclosures cool. The birds’ cages have all been covered with green shade nets,” says forest range officer J Muralidhar, adding that rain guns too are kept at the enclosures of almost all the animals, while foggers are being used for birds and reptiles, including 14 rare species of snakes. The newly-constructed water pools inside almost every enclosure too are expected to be helpful for the inmates. “These arrangements will continue till the end of June when the summer will slowly recede,” says M Laxman, assistant curator of the zoo.
A SUMMER SPECIAL DIET
The authorities have also adopted certain precautions to ensure safety of the animals from various summer diseases like typhoid and heat strokes. “Glucose D, electrolyte powder, Vitamin-C supplements, B complex supplements and thermo care lipids are dissolved in water and given daily to keep the animals cool,” said Dr Md Abdul Hakeem, chief veterinary officer and assistant director of the park.
GOOD NEWS FOR VISITORS TOO
special care has been taken to ensure that visitors to the zoo are also comfortable and have a much cooler environment when they come to see animals. “Sprinklers are provided at all the lawns to ensure the visitors have a comfortable sojourn,” says Muralidhar.