Indian zookeepers promote fine dining for animals

Summer is fast approaching, especially in India, where recent temperatures have reached as high as 43.8 degrees Celsius, or a whopping 111 degrees Fahrenheit. Both men and animals alike at the Coimbatore Zoo are in a frenzy for relief, whether it be via water, watermelon or, better yet, some good old-fashioned ice cream.

Coimbatore Zoo lies in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which itself lies on the southeastern tip of the Indian Peninsula, bringing it extremely close to the equator. And despite common belief, India lies north of the equator, which means that its summers coincide with the summers of North America, Europe, and even Russia. Suffice it to say, southeastern India is just beginning its summer, which will last until July and likely reach temperatures above 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

To better accommodate their animals during this sweltering season, the zookeepers at Coimbatore Zoo have opted to serve them what could be considered fine dining for animals. Included on the menu are citrus fruits, watermelons, and ice cream.

Director Perumalsamy told Asian News International (ANI), “We are facing so may problems regarding heat stroke…for that…to maintain the animals and also the birds… to keep them cool, we are, instead of giving them regular feed; we are concentrating on giving ice cream as well as watermelon.”

In addition, the zookeepers are supplementing the animals’ regular food with doses of vitamins. The pelicans, for instance, get to chow on finely cooked fish mixed with a tinge of scrumptious vitamin powder.

Radha, a visitor, was quite stirred by the spectacle. “This is something new and this is for the first time I am witnessing this here,” he said. “Moreover, the initiative taken by the zoo officials to protect the monkeys and other animals during this hot summer is something great.”


/Weird Asia News/