Animals beat the heat by cold drinks in Lucknow zoo

By Kamna Mathur

Lucknow, Apr 26 : Fruit juices and cucumbers helped a chimpanzee to beat the summer heat in a Lucknow zoo.

The most striking incident happened when the chimpanzee drank fruit juice off its caretaker's hands and did not leave the glass till the content was over.

Alarmed by the soaring mercury, the zoo authorities are serving the cold drinks to the animals.

"Several measures have been taken to provide every possible comfort to the animals. The zoo has deployed a team of veterinarians and vitamins and electrolytes are being added to the food and drinking water to prevent dehydration, said an official.

"See, the temperatures are rising and it isn't only humans who are feeling the heat. Even the animals are a troubled lot. So, not only the drink but other arrangements have also been made in our zoo to make the animals feel comfortable," said Renu Singh, Lucknow zoo Director.

She added, sprinklers have been installed in all the enclosures and the animals have been put on a nutritious diet comprising seasonal fruits like watermelon and mangoes along with cucumbers.

ANI