Zoo makes special arrangements for inmates

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, May 6

Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, commonly known as Chhatbir Zoo, has put in place a series of special arrangements to keep its inmates hydrated and cool this summer.

Coolers, water sprinklers and seasonal summer food items such as beetroot and watermelon are some of the special arrangements the zoo has made to help the animals and birds beat the sweltering summer heat.

Tigers, lions, jaguar and many others are provided with personal desert coolers housed near their cages. The desert coolers run round the clock. While the coolers give them respite from the heat, the cages are also equipped with exhaust fans. Ice slabs have been provided to bears and all windows had been covered with mesh to keep a mosquito-free environment.

Harpal Singh, a zoo officer, said empty ponds had been replenished for the comfort of animals. Enclosures had also been shaded with 75 per cent of the ‘density agro-net’, which helps in decreasing the surrounding temperature, added Harpal.

For herbivores, temporary shelters (hut) made from wooden logs and bamboos have been placed in the enclosures. Further, muddy shallow pools had been created for elephants and deers. All cages of birds have also been covered with agro-net and jute mat to save them from heat stroke.

“We modify their diet and provide seasonal fruits which have more water content such as watermelon and cucumber,” said Zoo Officer.

Similarly watermelons are being provided to monkeys, bears and elephants. Banana had been replaced with papaya during summers while cabbage leaves have been replaced with spinach leaves for animals and birds, the Zoo authorities said.

Animal population at the zoo has seen a significant rise this year which has taken the total number to 1,322. At present, the zoo has a repository of 114 species.

Soon walk among birds at Chhatbir Zoo

Soon, strolling through the wilderness of the Chhatbir zoo will be more pleasurable and informative for children and elders alike. India’s longest aviary is all set to become new attraction for local people and tourists visiting the zoo as the authorities are busy giving the final touches to the project.

A huge walk through the aviary set up at a cost of Rs 90 lakh, measuring 300 metres and housing about 43 species of birds at the zoo has come as a boon for bird lovers since they can have a leisure walk along the path and enjoy bird watching. The walk-in aviary is expected to be thrown open to the public this month, said sources.

M Sudhagar, Field Director, Chhatbir Zoo, said, the objective of the walk-through aviary was to offer birds more freedom to fly and also enable visitors to had a better observation of the birds’ behaviour. Nowadays, city dwellers are unable to see varieties of birds, so this walk-through aviary has been set up for the benefit of them, especially elders, as they can now watch the birds closely and observe their nesting habits and other activities, Sudhagar added.

A pair of Asiatic lions and a female white tiger will soon arrive at the Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park from Rajkot. Three different species of ducks will also arrive at Chhatbir from Rohtak Zoo, Haryana.

As part of the animal exchange policy, the Chhatbir zoo will hand over a female Himalayan black bear, a pair of baboon and a few species of birds to the Zoological Garden in Rajkot. The lions are expected to reach here by mid-August. At present, there are four lions (three females and one male) at the Chhatbir Zoo.

M Sudhagar, field director, Chhatbir Zoo, said the animal exchange with Rajkot zoo had been finalised and were waiting for the final approval of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).

He added that once the zoo gets the approval, the pair of Asiatic lions and a female white tiger would be brought here by Mid-August as by then weather would undergo change.