Heaters on, blankets out in Delhi Zoo

NEW DELHI - As winter sets in on the capital, Rita and Max, draped in woollen blankets, plant themselves firmly in front of the heater and chomp their way to ward off the cold. And the two chimps are not the only animals who are warming up in the Delhi Zoo.

The tigers, lions and birds are also being provided a protective shield to fight the biting cold.

“In winters, woollen blankets and special diets are not just needed by us, even the animals needs them,” Riaz Khan, curator of the zoo, told IANS.

He said that different arrangements have been made for different species depending on their resistance abilities. For instance, heaters have been provided for the big cats - lions and the tigers - and wooden platforms placed for the slithering snakes to keep them warm.

In total, about 60 heaters have been placed at various enclosures, mainly for lions, tigers, bears and chimpanzees.

“The two chimpanzees exclusively get blankets owing to their ability to think and use,” Khan said.

For the wide variety of birds, especially of the exotic variety, their cages are covered with jute cloth.

Khan said the food habits of the animals change during the winter season.

“During winter, the big cats like the lion and the tiger often get hungry and they eat more. For instance, a tiger consumes only 10 kg of meat during summers, but during the winter he eats about 12 kg meat,” he said.

He also said that food is given at measured intervals because the animals have the ability to take it all in one go.

There are around nine white tigers and 10 Bengal tigers in the zoo. Six of them are male and four are female.

“As for the deer and bears, they love to gorge on amlas (Indian gooseberry). Each consumes around 50 grams per day,” Khan says.

“Overall, we provide extra milk and fruits to every animal to help them stay fit.

“Winters are a dreaded period for the animals; special care has to be provided to them,” he added.

Spread over an area of 240 acres, the Delhi Zoo houses over 1,000 varieties of mammals, reptiles and avian species. It is also home to many endangered species in India.

The leopard cat, Indian rhinoceros, hippopotamus, black buck, Indian gazelle and lion-tailed macaque are some of the animals found here. It also houses nearly all varieties of deer found in the country.