India zoo uses air coolers for comfort of the big cats

Gulf Today Report

Like human beings, even animals need pampering. For instance, there are beauty parlours for dogs and cats, where they can undergo grooming and have other services such as manicure. The plus point with animals is that they are not fussy, unlike humans, who can send the hairstylist or makeup artist up the wall with their fussy behaviour.

If you think wild animals are being ignored, think again. A zoo in India is installing air coolers for species such as tigers, panthers, even lions. The authorities at Sanjay Gandhi Zoological Park in the state of Bihar's capital city, Patna, have made special facilities for the big cats as the temperatures soar amid a heatwave gripping India.

The coolers have been installed in the caves of lions, tigers, panthers, leopards, bears and other animals to save them from heatwaves, according to Indo-Asian News Service.

Dr Satyajeet, the director of Patna zoo, said that owing to the scorching heat conditions, they have tried to make the animals as comfortable as possible by making special arrangements for them. Even coconut water is being served to bears and chimpanzees.

The sweltering conditions can make the animals very uneasy, even irritable. So the administration officials at the zoo are taking no chances.

"We have installed several water sprinklers, and besides this, the cages of the wildlife animals here are covered with straws," the director said.

Many are wilting under the blistering heat in the state. Temperatures in several districts have already hit the 40˚C mark. It is particularly hot between 11am and 4pm.