Vets and helpers at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (Vandalur zoo) are busy playing mother to a bunch of ostrich chicks.
The chicks were abandoned by their mother soon after they hatched, but have managed to survive and thrive, thanks to the hand-rearing unit at the zoo.
In April, a female ostrich laid six eggs. After four of the eggs hatched, the mother turned her attention to the two remaining eggs, ignored the four chicks.
Since parental care is lacking, the chicks have been weaned away from their mother and brought to the hand-rearing unit at the veterinary hospital in the zoo, said an official.
The chicks have been provided extra care with a special diet, and they have thrived, said zoo authorities.
K.S.S.V.P. Reddy, additional principal chief conservator of forests and zoo director, said the unhatched eggs turned out to be infertile.
For the next two months, the veterinary hospital at the zoo will be home to the abandoned chicks. After that, they will be released into the ostrich enclosure, said Mr. Reddy. The birds’ special diet will also continue for the next five months, till they grow to a good size.
The weight of the chicks is monitored on alternate days. The zoo veterinarian has systematically recorded the increase in the weight of the chicks.
Authorities have also made special arrangements in the room where the chicks are housed. Using an infra-red light and fans, the room temperature and humidity are maintained, said Mr. Reddy.
The unit has successfully hand-reared elephant calves, leopards, wild dogs and hyenas, in the past. Ostrich chicks are being hand-reared for the first time, said Mr. Reddy.