Heat Wave: Nandankanan Zoo gears up to keep animals 'cool'

Bhubaneswar: With intense heat wave conditions prevailing across Odisha, the authorities of Nandankanan Zoological Park have come up with special measures to keep the animals 'cool' this summer.

Almost all enclosures at the zoo are now covered with hay stacks and proper water facilities have been made inside the enclosures to keep the animals hydrated.

With the sudden rise in temperature for the last couple of weeks, the zoo officials are trying their best to protect the animals from the heat.

Through sprinklers, water is being sprayed inside the enclosures to keep the surrounding cool. Instructions have been issued by the zoo authorities to make provision of water round the clock in all the animal enclosures.

Ice slabs are being placed inside the carnivorous enclosures to keep the animals cool while coolers have been installed in the enclosures where chimpanzee and Himalayan black bear are housed.

The Zoo has also come up with special diet menu for all the animals to keep them hydrated. Fruits with high water content including watermelons, sugar cane, cucumbers have been added to the regular diet of the animals.

Speaking to odishatv.in, Assistant Conservator of Forest (Visitor Management) of Nandankanan, Amulya Kumar Parida said, “Like every year we have covered all the enclosures with hay stacks for shade. We have ensured drinking water for the animals by providing cold running water.”

Our focus is also on maintaining greenery inside the zoo. A special veterinary doctors' team is also working round the clock to monitor the health conditions of animals inside the zoo as well,” added Parida.