Blowers, heat lamps help animals beat winter chill at Alipore zoo
Times of India | 17 January 2026
Kolkata: After the city recorded Jan's lowest minimum temperature in the past 13 years at 10.2°C earlier last week, Alipore Zoo introduced a host of measures to keep animals warm and their enclosures germ-free.
The zoo used blowers to keep animals such as deer, reptiles and birds active, and infra-red lamps extensively in the enclosures of reptiles and tortoises.
Talking to TOI, zoo director Tripti Sah said: "Recently, we used blowers to keep inmates warm in the enclosures of some deer, birds and reptiles. Whenever we find any animals or birds inactive, we activate the blowers, particularly at night to keep them warm. The blowers are mainly being used in their night shelters," she added.
According to her, gunny bags and paddy straw are also being used in the enclosures to keep animals warm.
The zoo also used blowers to dry enclosures quickly after cleaning. "Recently, we cleaned the enclosure of chimpanzees with water. To dry it up fast, we used the blowers, so that they don't come out when the area is wet. We need to be careful and make sure they don't catch cold," she added.
According to her, overall bio-security measures were also being implemented. "These include disinfecting the enclosures. This time of the year sees high footfall of visitors. This also leads to a rise in germ load. So, we are using disinfectants to keep the enclosures germ-free," Sah added.
The Met office predicted chilly weather in the coming days with weathermen forecasting the minimum temperature to hover around 12°C and for the next couple of days. The maximum temperature was likely to fluctuate between 22°C and 24°C.
An official said the zoo was keeping its animals warm using a combination of heated shelters, heat lamps, warm bedding such as straw and sacks, and dietary adjustments, including addition of food items rich in fat, such as meat and nuts and jaggery, while also modifying enclosures with coverings, such as gunny bags and tarps to block wind, ensuring animals had access to warmth to prevent illness.