GUWAHATI:
With the minimum temperature going down to 9.6 degrees Celsius in Guwahati on January 7, the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden installed heaters to keep animals warm during this winter season.
The city witnessed a 27 degrees Celsius maximum temperature on Saturday which is likely to fall to 26 degrees Celsius from January 9 to 13.
Normally, the winter season in Guwahati begins in November and lasts till February. The minimum temperature hovers around 10°C.
To keep the animals and birds warm this winter season, the state zoo authorities have taken some special measures.
“We have installed heaters, tarpaulin, straw, etc., in different enclosures as per the need to keep animals safe from cold,” said Aswini Kumar, divisional forest officer (DFO), Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden.
There are also arrangements to keep heaters near the cages of tigers, lions and other animals to keep them warm during the winter.
“200-watt bulbs have been installed in birds’ cages which are also covered with plastic at night,” Kumar also said.
“During winter the animals faced problems due to cold. We have arranged this to keep the health of the animal well during the winter,” Kumar said.
Established in 1957, the Assam State Zoo and Botanical Garden is the region’s leading zoo and ex-situ (off-site) conservation centre located at Hengrabari Reserve Forest.
Spread in an area of 432 acres (175 hectares), the zoo is home to about 1,197 animals, birds and reptiles representing almost 113 species of animals and birds from around the world.