Special summer care for Tripura zoo animals started

Sepahijala zoo authorities in India's Tripura state have adopted a few scientific techniques of management to beat the dry hot summer and keep the animals cool and healthy by special care.

“The cages are sprinkled with cold water and gunny sacks tied to them are kept wet to act as natural cooler and to reduce heat radiation,” said Zoo Director Pallab Chakraborty .

“Most animals are given bath regularly and their water vessels are kept filled so that the animals do not have any scarcity of drinking water and to ensure their hydration.”

Pools and special water bodies have been created with the enclosure of the water-loving animals like hippopotamus so that they can splash and enjoy in the water.

However, other bigger animals like elephants are also given bath will cool water on regular basis daily and sometime even twice during hot afternoon.

Khalil Mia, an elephant keeper said elephants are given bath daily.

"After daily morning bath, we take them to graze in the jungle. Around 4pm we feed them khichari and bath them once again. We are keeping them throughout the day in shade because elephants generally prefer to stay in water like buffalos and pigs as they love to remain cool."

One of the biggest open zoo in the country, Sepahijala is situated 25 km south of capital Agartala, and is inside the reserve forest having thick canopy that acts as natural shade for the animals.

In spite of this the zoo authority are not taking any chance and have covered the top of the cages so that direct sun ray can be avoided and the cages kept cool.

Changes have been brought in the supplied food of the animals, while some are provided with green grass other herbivores are given a special diet during summer, which has more seasonal summer fruits.

The zoo veterinarian Dr Keshab Debnath said that along with round the clock supply of water and change in the diet of the animals he is also prescribing ORS for the animals in order to prevent dehydration in them.

In spite of the hot summer the Sepahijal zoo is attracting large number of visitors who appreciated the special summer care given top the animals by the management .