With mercury levels soaring over 45 degree Celsius across India, Wildlife SOS (WSOS) has adopted several measures to ensure that hundreds of sloth bears in their care in WSOS rescue centres across the country are able to beat the heat
Dr. Ilayaraja, deputy director of veterinary services at Wildlife SOS said: “We provide the bears glucose water, electrolyte solution and herbal medication to help them stay hydrated. They are most active during the early hours of the day or after sunset. During the afternoon, most of the bears rest inside their dens or in the shade of trees.”
To provide respite from the oppressive heat, Wildlife SOS has taken several innovative measures.
Dr. Ilayaraja said that ice fruit popsicles, which are essentially pieces of fruits frozen in blocks of ice, is a hit with the bears.
Special diet
Water sprinklers that create cool zones inside the enclosures is also something the bears love.
There are also special splash pools and air coolers in every enclosure.
The bears also enjoy a special summer diet comprising watermelons, musk melons and cucumbers.
Wildlife SOS centres currently house almost 400 sloth bears that were rescued from illegal ‘dancing bear’ shows that for centuries had inflicted terrible cruelty on thousands of the highly-endangered sloth bears. Sloth bears are endangered and protected under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
