Zoo animals in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar put on intense hydration therapy

Ahmedabad: As mercury crosses 42°C across Gujarat, zoo facilities in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar are executing comprehensive heat-management plans to safeguard their inhabitants.

At Kankaria zoo in Ahmedabad, staff use geothermal pipes, mist sprinklers, and coolers to lower cage temperatures for lions, tigers, leopards, and monkeys, while keeping otters submerged in pools. Many animals are given water mixed with ORS to prevent dehydration. Caretakers are closely tracking behavioural shifts like lethargy and irritability. “Zoos exist primarily for conservation, education, and research, not just entertainment,” said zoo adviser Dr R K Sahu, who has spent over three decades at the facility.

Meanwhile, Indroda Park in Gandhinagar — managed by the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) — has deployed 15 jumbo coolers and 20 sprinklers to reduce enclosure temperatures by up to 4 degrees until monsoon arrives.

Indroda accommodates 600 wild animals including three lions, three leopards, two tigers, crocodiles, hyenas, reptiles, and rare birds. Veterinarians have cut food portions by 500g to 1,000g daily to prevent bloating in carnivores. Instead, diets are packed with water-rich fruits and Vitamin-C oral rehydration salts to beat dehydration. Plantations offer natural shade across both sanctuaries as medical teams keep a round-the-clock watch.