Zoo animals get special treatment as mercury soars

Not only humans but animals too have to bear the brunt of the severe heat wave that has been sweeping Odisha for over a month. While animals in their natural habitat have natural ways to cope with the sweltering heat, the ones inside the zoo have to rely on the zoo authorities to get some relief.

From Nandankanan in Bhubaneswar to Sambalpur and Rourkela, animals in these zoos are getting special treatment from the zookeepers this summer.

In Nandankanan, the zoo authorities have installed water containers and water tanks in enclosures for the animals like bears and tigers. The authorities even have made arrangements to spray water on the animals to cool them off. So much so that continuous water sprinklers in the bird enclosure have created an illusion of rain inside Nandankanan.

“We have started these water treatments in Nandankanan since March 10. We have activated all the sprinklers. We have provided coolers and fans for some precious animals like pangolins and chimpanzees too,” said Nandankanan ACF, Rashmiranjan Swain.

Special arrangements have also been made at Motijharan Zoo in Sambalpur. Apart from water treatment, the zoo authorities are ensuring the hydration of the animals by providing them a diet that includes watermelon, banana, glucose water, and honey water.

Speaking about the arrangements, Hirakud DFO, Anshuprajnya Dash said, “We have covered all the 27 enclosures with green-net shed and made bamboo-thatched roofs. We are also spraying water continuously from 9am to 4pm every day including showers. The diet of the animals has also been changed accordingly.”

Similarly, at the IG Park Zoo in Rourkela, a special thatched house has been made for the peacocks, while coolers have been provided for other birds in the enclosure.

“We have installed coolers for monkeys and made water tanks for deers. Apart from that we also make the animals consume electral powder by mixing it with drinking water and their food,” said the zoo’s veterinary doctor, Abhijit Biswas.