As summer begins to peak and the mercury keeps its upwardly climb, the Nehru Zoological Park has made arrangements to help the animals, birds and reptiles here escape the hot weather conditions.
From air-coolers to rain guns and sprinklers, the authorities have covered the different zones of the zoo with the required paraphernalia, said curator B.N.N. Murthy.
“Most animal and bird enclosures have been enriched with different plant species that help reduce the temperature,” he said.
More than 100 sprinklers have been installed along the peripheries of the enclosures, and the bigger enclosures have been provided with rain guns that could throw water at a distance of about 30 metres.
There are eight rain guns for the enclosures of the chimpanzee, lions and others, while they would be installed for elephants and rhinoceros in the next couple of days.
Foggers that create a mist and keep the enclosures cool were already in place in the aviary, and also in the enclosures of some smaller cats. The others were draped with thunga dry grass and also khas-khas matting and watered regularly, Mr. Murthy said.
All the night houses to which the animals retire in the evening have been fitted with air-coolers, and these include those of the leopard, white tiger, lions, jackal and sloth bears.
“We ensured that the temperature in these night houses is at least 5 degree Celsius less than that outside,” he said.
Relief from power cutsIn another move, the electricity department was approached with a request to ensure that the power cuts do not happen here during the day time.
“The APCPDCL has agreed to go for its load relief and have power cuts only during the early mornings and late evenings to help our efforts of keeping animals and birds comfortable during the hot day conditions,” Mr. Murthy added.
