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Cooling off at the city zoo

It's summer time and the inmates of the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park are finding their own ways of beating the heat

IT'S COOL! An elephant taking a cool splash at the zoo PHOTO:K.R.DEEPAK

An unusual tranquility fills the atmosphere. A distant noise of water sprinklers, subdued growls and rustle of dry leaves can be heard. As the sun beats down mercilessly, it's time for a siesta for the felines. In silent groups, they move into the shades of the trees for a snooze. The painted storks sit together in a muted silence while the others splash a bit of water by fluttering their wings in the water body. The lazy hippo moves around in the cool water of the pond, enjoying every moment of it.

It's summer time and the inmates of the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park are finding their own ways of beating the heat. As the mercury keeps climbing steadily, zoo authorities have geared up sparing no effort to create cool zones for the animals and birds to give full protection from the burning heat.

For the avian friends, the cages are covered with palm leaf mats, which screen the sunrays and reduce the heat considerably. "We are giving plenty of liquids to the animals. Electrolytes and glucose are added in water. The big cats, primates, birds and bears need special care during the hot season. We give them milk with B-complex syrup to help them stay fit," says the zoo curator Vijaykumar.

The primary focus of activities these days at the zoo is providing the animals with a water body, however small.

The hippos and the rhinos of the zoo, along with the elephants are a lucky lot in this respect as they already have very good water pools to loll about in. Shanti is extremely excited each time the guard takes her to the water well. She can cool herself with a splash of water or just play some tricks with the guard as she sprays the water from her trunk all over him. Heat can sap the animals so much that the generally active monkeys abstain from their usual antics to cool their heels literally.

The summer is a dreaded season for the reptiles. "These creatures cannot withstand high temperatures. So we need to maintain the temperatures in which they are comfortable," says Vijaykumar. Water sprinklers work round the clock to keep them wet and cool. The hot season is trying time for the old inmates of the zoo. They seem sad and disturbed as they struggle through yet another summer. The kings of the zoo, Arjun and Ginni, appear to be restless. Their restrained roars can be heard as you approach their territory. They simply hate summer for this is the time when they have to fight for their freedom. The oldest lions bred in captivity, this 23-year-old couple, have to be given extra care considering their age and fragile physical state. "We have restricted their movements within the wired mesh because if one of them collapses in the hot sun outside, its companion becomes very violent and doesn't allow anyone to come near. So, if there is an emergency, it will be difficult to bring immediate medical care," says Vijaykumar. Due to this, the couple is kept inside during the day. If they manage to survive this summer, this year on October 23, they will turn 24 and that will be a record of some sort.

NIVEDITA GANGULY

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