Team on 24*7 duty, buffer food stock: How this zoo prepared for cyclone

While the zoo remained closed to visitors on Thursday, the day of the cyclone’s landfall, as part of the precautionary measure, Zoo Director RK Sahu told The Indian Express his team was on its toes to ensure the safety of the animals. Trees that could have caused harm were pruned or cut, he said. The staff also stored extra food and water to ensure the animals did not suffer during the storm.

Despite heavy rain, there was no major impact, as per the management. Over 2,000 animals in the zoo remained safe, Sahu said. “We are proud of the measures we took to ensure our animals were safe during the cyclone,” he asserted. “We will continue to be vigilant and prepare for any future emergencies that may arise,” he added. The zoo department’s veterinary doctor team, superintendent, and director were on round-the-clock duty. They even arranged different teams for mammals, reptiles, and birds to ensure all animals got proper attention.

To further ensure the safety of the animals, they were shifted to feed zones rather than open zones. This helped to minimise the risk of injury or harm from falling debris or other hazards. “Animals like White Blackbuck, Spotted Deer, Nicobar Pigeons, Indian Pyothons, crocodiles, and Bearcats were most vulnerable and had to be cared for the most,” Sahu said.

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“Areas where elephants and rhinos were kept needed to be secured from the risk of falling branches of a tree or heavy objects,” he added. The Kamala Nehru Zoo specialises in the breeding of rare birds. The zoo has unique species of birds like Nicobar Pegions,and Java Sparrows, (Yukti Ahuja is an intern with The Indian Express)