Diet changes for Lucknow zoo inmates to overcome the winter onslaught

LUCKNOW: Apart from putting up heaters and floor mats, Lucknow Zoo authorities have changed the diet of the animals and birds to help them cope with the ongoing severe cold conditions.
The body metabolism rate of big cats and other carnivores increases in winters because they burn more calories to generate more heat and maintain body temperature to beat the cold, hence they are being provided with more buffalo calf meat, which is rich in fat and proteins, so that they keep their energy levels up to the mark, said zoo veterinarian Dr Ashok Kashyap.
Some warm-blooded mammals like bears lessen their physical activity or fall into a deep sleep called torpor to fight cold. During torpor, heart rate and breathing rate decreases and body temperature reduces slightly. In such conditions, a bear does not need more food. The warm-blooded herbivores too require more fat-rich food to increase metabolism for maintaining body temperature, hence we are giving them gram, peanuts and mustard greens mixed with the fodder, he added.
On the other hand, the cold-blooded animals like fish, amphibians and reptiles cannot generate body heat, but they change it by changing the environment or lowering their physical activity or going to hibernation. As a result, the body metabolism rate of these animals drops, and they require less food. Accordingly, the diets of snakes, alligators and crocodiles have been changed. When there is sunshine, alligators and crocodiles love to sunbathe, said experts.
For the same reason, they added, the quantity of food for the fishes in the aquarium has been decreased to match their low metabolism. For example, the three Alligator Gar fishes are now being fed only once a week. The temperature of the water in the aquarium is being maintained with the help of thermostat heaters. The enclosures for the birds has been covered and mats have been laid on floor to protect them from cold winds.