Hyderabad zoo takes extra measures to keep animals warm during cold wave

As temperatures continue to drop in the city, heaters have been placed in the night houses of carnivores, primates, and bears to protect them from the extreme cold, especially at night. To prevent foot cramps in carnivores, which are common during winter, the zoo authorities have also provided wooden planks in their night houses.

Hyderabad: As the city is grappling with cold wave like conditions with several places recording single digit temperatures, the Nehru Zoological Park here stepped up measures to ensure its inmates remain warm and healthy this winter season.
From arranging heaters, covering enclosures with green and gunny bags, to switching off air conditioners, the zoo park officials employed a range of solutions to protect inhabitants.

With temperatures dropping rapidly in the city, heaters have been arranged in all the night houses of carnivores, primates and bears, ensuring that they do not suffer in biting cold temperatures, particularly in the night. As carnivores are prone to cramps in the foot region during the winter, the zoo authorities arranged wooden planks in the night houses of these animals.

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Apart from heaters, the enclosures of common Langur, and doors and windows of the carnivores’ houses have been covered with green and gunny bags to prevent cold winds besides ensuring animals do not suffer from pneumonia.

Bird’s night houses have been provided with nest boxes, insulated material in it, particularly in the Macaws and Cockatoos area, to block harsh cold winds. Insulating material, wooden baskets and earthen pots have also been arranged in the new aviary to not just protect birds from winter winds but also for nesting and laying eggs.

As for Elephant moats and Giraffe night houses, the zoo officials have employed a unique method of burning neem leaves for smoke as mosquitoes repellent besides avoiding cold winds.

As the nocturnal animals face unique winter challenges, the zoo authorities have adjusted their approach to these animals by switching off the air conditioning units in their enclosures.

“Seasonal arrangements are regular maintenance and management activities of the zoo based on the requirements. Air conditioners are stopped in nocturnal animal houses for 3 1⁄2 months till mid of February 2025. All the night houses of carnivores are provided with wooden planks to avoid cramps in the foot region,” said J Vasantha, Curator Nehru Zoological Park Hyderabad .