Delhi Zoo ensures cool shelters to inmates

New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) At first sight, one could easily mistake it for an arbour festooned with a variety of creepers.

A closer look reveals it to be a cage housing the big cats at Delhi zoo. The natural covering with the plants is one of the several methods adopted by the zoo, housing more than 2,000 animals and bird species, to keep its inmates cool during the scorching summer with day temperatures hovering above 40 degrees Celsius.

Several other enclosures, especially those of the monkeys, have been covered with 'patera' (dried grass screens) from the sides giving them the appearance of village huts. The cages of the leopards, fishing cats and the civets have been covered by patera.The monkeys cages are also being covered with 'patera' as an experimental measure. Earlier, these were covered with polythene sheets throughout the year but that resulted in a green house effect, bottling up the heat inside. The Zoo authorities will be keeping a close watch on how long these natural screens last, as the inquisitive simians were likely to pull out the grass through the gaps in the cage bars, he added.

Talking about the arrangements made for other animals, Zoo Director D N Singh told UNI that 27 air coolers and 11 fans have already been installed in the cages of the wild cats, the sloth bears, the Himalayan bears and the chimpanzees. The cages of the exotic birds, tigers and the monkeys have also been covered with 'patera' to keep the animals cool, he added.

Apart from these, animals who are fond of getting wet in the water like the white tigers are being given luxurious spray baths, Mr Singh said. Asked about how the animals belonging to cooler areas adjust to the hot environment of the capital, Dr Kumar said the black bear, the goral and the jungle fowl migrate to the lower areas in the winter season. Thus, it is not difficult for them to adjust to the climate of Delhi.

On provision of clean water, he said that the receptacles inside the cages were being filled with sufficient drinking water to last the inhabitant for a day. Apart from that, there was enough water in the reservoirs to last an entire week, he added.

At present, no load shedding is taking place in the zoo premises but still two generators have been kept on stand-by in case of electricity shortage, officials said.

"We also plan to clean up all the ponds by June, before arrival of the monsoon," Mr Singh said.

At present, due to relatively cool weather conditions, the animals were being left out in the open in there enclosures at night, rather than being locked up in the cages.

As the humidity levels rise, the animals will be given glucose mixed in water to fight the scorching heat, the director said, adding that due to the bird flu scare, the animals were being given pigeon meat instead of eggs and chicken.

This will continue till the bird flu scare died down, he said.

UNI