SGNP sets up thermometers to keep animal habitats cool

Mumbai: With the onset of summer, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) has set up thermometers inside the animal shelters to check on the temperature of habitats.

Officials stated that whenever the temperature inside the shelters shoots up above 35 degrees, immediate measures are taken to provide a cooler ambience for the animals like water-spraying. This initiative started after the mercury in Mumbai soared to 41 degrees earlier this year.

“With the rise in the city temperatures, wild animals become more prone to dehydration. Hence we focus on keeping the ambient temperatures normal. Whenever the mercury is more than 35 degrees, we spray water on the animals in the shelter,” said P. B. Bhalekar, divisional forest officer, SGNP. The rescue centre of SGNP has around 10 leopards, which are not kept for display. The shelter and rescue centre are shaded and have closed enclosures, said the officers. “During summer, all the animals, including the big cats, are given cold showers after returning from the safari area, so that they do not fall ill due to direct exposure to sunlight. In the rescue centres, animals are sprayed with water through fans,” he added.

Earlier this month, the SGNP officers started preparations for filling up waterholes in various ranges of the national park. The water inside these pools is changed after every ten days through both internal and external water supply. “This is to ensure that the animals get fresh water during summers,” said an official. SGNP has also directed animal keepers to check for symptoms of dehydration and exhaustion, like heavy breathing, difficulty in moving and lack of appetite.