Cooling arrangements for wild animals

Sambalpur: A wild animal conservation center here has made elaborate arrangements to protect the animals from heat wave now sweeping this western Odisha. Popularly known as `the deer park`, the centre located in the heart of the city is one of the major attractions here with the animals and birds inhabiting the centre and its beautiful surrounding is the cynosure of all visitors.

"We have brought changes in the visiting hours. Summer sheds have been made to protect the animals from the heat wave with straw thatched over the roofs. Besides, sidewalls have been erected for the animals to protect them from the gruelling heat," said, range officer of the wild animal conservation center of Sambalpur, Amulya Parida. There has been changes in the food pattern of the animals by serving them watermelon, sugarcane and papayas.

As herbivorous animals are susceptible to heat wave, arrangements have been made to protect them form the soaring heat with construction of temporary sheds. Water tanks have been arranged for the deer in the centre as well, he said adding cold drinking water arrangement made for the visitors. Stating that the number of visitors has decreased considerably this summer, Parida said during winter over 2000 people had visited.

Spread over 13.16 hectares, the centre has been accorded the status of a small zoo. Over 300 species inhabiting the centre included spotted deer, four-horned antelope, barking deer, leopard, sloth bear, monkey, ratel, civet cat, python, peacock, parakeet, moorhen, gray patridge, spotted dove and a number of exotic birds.