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Zoo's Cool Tactics Beat Brutal Heatwave
14 Mar
Summary
- Zoo implements ponds, showers, and coolers for animal heat protection.
- Special summer diet includes watermelons, muskmelons, and sugarcane.
- ORS is provided to animals to prevent dehydration during hot weather.
The Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden in Ahmedabad is taking extensive measures to protect its animal inhabitants from the rising mercury, which recently surpassed 39°C. These cooling strategies were intensified last week when the maximum temperature reached an unusually high 41.4°C for early March.
Animals are being kept comfortable with a variety of cooling solutions, including ponds, showers, and coolers within their enclosures. Specific provisions have been made for different species; for instance, big cats have access to coolers, while the hippopotamus enclosure's pond is consistently cleaned and refilled with fresh water.
Beyond physical cooling, the zoo is also enhancing the animals' diets with hydrating summer fruits like watermelons, muskmelons, and sugarcane. To further combat dehydration, oral rehydration salts (ORS) are being administered. The zoo's landscaping, with surrounding greenery, also contributes to maintaining a cooler environment.
Additionally, a geological aeration method is employed for the nocturnal zoo inhabitants, circulating cooler subterranean air to maintain stable, lower temperatures. Visitors are reminded to avoid disturbing animals resting in shaded areas, as this rest is crucial for their temperature regulation.
