The move comes at a time when Kolkata is reeling under a heatwave and the maximum temperature is expected to touch 43 degrees Celsius over the next three days.
On Tuesday, the maximum temperature in the city touched 40 degree Celsius amid the prevailing heatwave conditions. The sky is expected to remain partly cloudy with the maximum humidity at 79 per cent. A further rise in temperature is also expected this week, the India Meteorological Department said on Tuesday.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Subhankar Sengupta, director of Alipore zoo, said, “We have arranged plenty of water for bathing, swimming and drinking purposes of the animals. As suggested by the veterinarian, we have been putting ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) in the drinking water.”
“We have also installed a shower (sprinkler) for the elephant. Recently, air coolers have been installed for the kangaroos and at the black bear’s enclosure,” added Sengupta.
Speaking about the diet of the animals, which has been recently changed, Sengupta said, “We have added more summer fruits for the herbivores, like watermelon, bananas and sweet limes for the giraffe. Fruits have become a major meal for them. For the carnivorous animals, we have reduced the fat portion of the meat. During winters, each carnivorous animal, such as the tigers, lions, leopards and others, used to be given 11 kg of meat. Now, due to the summer, we have reduced 2 kg of meat from their diet.”
The zoo has not only taken initiatives for the animals but has also put in place certain measures for the visitors. In May last year, the authorities had introduced vehicles which take visitors around the zoo at a charge of Rs 100 per person.
New entrants
The zoo authorities are bringing in new animals, said Sengupta. He added, “We are bringing new animals to the zoo such as a white female Siberian tiger to pair up with the old one, five wild dogs, two males and three females, a pair of wolves and a pair of hyenas all way back from the Vizag Zoo.”
Weather prediction
The Met officials have predicted a further rise in temperature in Kolkata. The met official said, “A gradual rise of temperature by 2-4 degree Celsius during the next three days over Gangetic West Bengal is expected.”
Met officials also issued a red alert (danger) on Tuesday. “Severe Heat wave conditions at one or two places are very likely to prevail over East Midnapore district. On Wednesday, severe Heatwave conditions are likely to prevail over East Midnapore, West Midnapore, West Burdwan and Bankura districts,” the weathermen said in a bulletin.
In North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata, Purulia, Jhargram, West Midnapore, Bankura, West Burdwan, East Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Nadia the IMD issued an orange alert. The heatwave condition is expected to continue throughout the week in the southern districts of West Bengal.
The maximum temperature at Panagarh, Midnapore, Bankura and Kalaikunda is hovering between 41.5 and 41.8 degree Celsius. The same in Krishnagar, Canning, Kalyani, Burdwan, Jhargram, Purulia and Raiganj is hovering around 40 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, the IMD has predicted light rainfall in Purulia, Jhargram, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Bankura, West Burdwan and Birbhum.