Tender coconut, soya bean milk keeping chimps cool at zoo

Summer management plan introduced at Mysuru zoo

Chimpanzees at the Mysuru zoo are being given tender coconuts four times a day this summer.

Rising mercury levels have kept the Mysuru zoo authorities on their toes. Protecting the animals from the summer heat and stress is top priority as part of the summer management plan here.

With plans of constructing a giant pool for elephants to cool off inside their enclosure and a swimming pool for Himalayan black bears in their holding rooms, the management has taken ample precautions to keep the animals cool and healthy this summer.

Seasonal fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, grapes, tender coconut, apart from soya bean milk and cucumbers are keeping the chimpanzees cool and energised.

“Come summer, we need to focus on the health of primates like chimps. They get stressed by the heat because their body is covered by thick hair and we therefore alter their diet to keep them fit and agile. Tender coconuts are being given to them four times daily besides cut fruits,” said then Zoo Executive Director C. Ravishankar, who was transferred recently. Speaking to

The Hindu, he said frozen fruits were fed to Himalayan black bears. The bears find it very difficult to put up with the current weather. Water is sprayed on them inside their holding rooms. Ice blocks are dipped at their pools to keep water chilled.

Pool for jumbos

The zoo has proposed to build a large pool inside the elephants’ enclosure to facilitate the large-bodied animals to immerse their bodies fully in the water to beat the heat. “I have discussed the proposal with the member secretary of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka. If possible, the pool will be constructed this summer itself,” Mr. Ravishankar said. He added, “It’s a big project but the zoo is ready to make it happen as elephants love to play in water, particularly in the summer.”

Tick menace

Swamp deer, wolves, and hyenas face the problem of ticks in summer. This is addressed by spraying Eucalyptus Citriodara oil in their enclosures to keep ticks at bay, the former director said.