West Bengal: Arrangements made at Alipore Zoological Park to protect animals from extreme heat
May 23, 2024
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 23 : Several provisions of water and other amenities have been made at Alipore Zoological Park in Kolkata to protect animals from extreme heat during the summer season.
The enclosures of animals have been covered with green sheets to stop the impact of direct heat. Sprinklers have been set up in the shelters of reptiles along with fans. Fans and coolers have also been set up in the night shelters of various animals like tigers, lions, pythons etc. Showers have been put up in the enclosure of elephants to save them from heat.
Subhankar Sen Gupta, IFS said, "In all the enclosures maximum quantity of water has been placed. There is only one way to protect them from heat. If they take bath or require water to drink then we have made enough provision for it. In drinking water, we are mixing ORS to maintain their electrolyte balance. Some enclosures where there are black bears, sloth bears or kangaroos, require a lower temperature. In their enclosures, we have fixed air coolers."
He further said that for birds sprinklers have been fixed.
He further said, "Birds and smaller animals like lemurs also require water but they don't go inside water. In their enclosure sprinklers have been fixed. Depending on the temperatures the sprinklers are switched on twice or thrice so that they can take bath. In the enclosure of elephants, showers have been fixed and they can also take bath in the water moats. Tigers are used to taking bath in cold water so we are using ice slabs. For reptiles, we have placed ceiling of table fans."
He further said that depending on the modification of temperature arrangement is done.
"During winter blankets and heaters are provided to them. So it depends on the season. Special care is taken for drinking water throughout the year. Safe drinking water is required for everyone so water is purified throughout the year," he added.
