Animals in Alipore Zoo beat the scorching heat in Kolkata with cold baths and ice slabs
With the rise in temperature in Kolkata special arrangements have been made for animals in Alipore Zoo.
Alipore Zoo has made special arrangements for the animals housed in the enclosure to beat the scorching summer heat. Bears, tigers, and tortoises received cold showers and took pool baths as the city sweltered in an early summer heatwave on Tuesday.
Temperatures crossed 40 degrees Celsius earlier this week as a brutal heatwave gripped the state. According to the RMC of the Meteorological Department, it is expected to remain high until the end of this week.
Zookeepers sprinkled water on cage fencing to protect the animals from getting burns. Furry black bears were bathed with water and given ice slabs to keep their body temperatures down.
“It is essential to save the animals just as it is to save ourselves from this. We are trying to keep the birds and animals in the enclosures safe from the heat. We are giving oral rehydration solution (ORS) to the animals so that they don’t fall sick,” said Tapas Das (IFS), Alipore Zoo Director. He added that animals’ cages are also spread with ice chunks to ensure they have some respite.
The zoo authorities have also installed sprinklers in enclosures. Apart from that, there are also used pressure pumps to bathe tortoises, zebras, deer, and birds manually to soothe them from the direct sun rays, said Das. The authorities put up agro nets to provide shade and reduce temperatures inside the zoo premises.
Speaking about changes in diet, Das said that there is no special change in the food given to the animals and birds. However, they are ensuring that the animals eat food that is easily digestible. “They are given food that they are known for keeping body temperatures on the cooler side. We have included a water-based diet, fruits, icicles, and some green vegetables keeping in mind their needs,” said Das.
Das briefly shed light on the low number of visitors at the zoo due to the palpable heat, adding, it is a common occurrence during summers. “This is pretty normal. It is a place for entertainment and when it is so hot outside, there are barely any visitors,” the Director explained.
(With inputs from Tapan Naskar)