Fruit ice cubes, jumbo coolers and frequent showers to ease heat stress on animals at Delhi zoo

An official said animals are provided a seasonal diet to help maintain hydration and body temperature, with fruits such as watermelon, muskmelon, sweet lime mosambi and apples included in their daily meals.

Watermelons and succulent fruits become staple feed, citrus ice cubes cool down parched primate palates and elephants line up for three showers daily -- summer at the National Zoological Park here brings with it a full-scale cooling plan as heatwave conditions grip the capital. With temperatures rising, the Delhi zoo has made special arrangements to protect animals from stress, dehydration and heat stroke during peak summer months. An official said animals are provided a seasonal diet to help maintain hydration and body temperature, with fruits such as watermelon, muskmelon, sweet lime ('mosambi') and apples included in their daily meals. Primates are also being provided fruit ice cubes as a cooling supplement. For carnivores, the diet has been adjusted -- reducing heavy feed intake and increasing water consumption. Regular showers are also being provided to help them endure the extreme heat, he said. The official said coolers have been installed and are being operated in retiring cells and animal shelters, to keep them comfortable. Elephants are being bathed three times a day to prevent overheating, and proper hydration is being ensured, he added. For herbivores, sprinklers have been installed inside enclosures to maintain soil moisture, reduce the impact of dry heat, and keep the surroundings cooler, he said, adding that the zoo's veterinary team is adding glucose and electrolyte powder to drinking water whenever required to prevent dehydration and weakness among animals. The official said enclosure opening timings are also being modified in view of the extreme heat, so that animals are not exposed to harsh sunlight for long periods. The zoo administration said these arrangements are implemented every summer with special monitoring to ensure that all animals remain safe and healthy during extreme weather conditions.