How Patna Zoo is using oil heaters, UV lights as part of winter care for animals

The Patna Zoo authorities are using oil heaters fluorescent and UV lights as part of winter care for animals an official saidSanjay Gandhi Biological Park popularly called Patna Zoo houses numerous animals and has been categorised as a large zoo by the central zoo authorityPatna Zoo director Hemant Patil said We face a lot of challenges in helping animals adapt to the changing weather during harsh wintersThe software engineerturned IFS officer said this year the Patna Zoo has introduced oil heaters instead of rod heaters and blowers in carnivore cellsThis is a significant upgrade because blowers and rod heaters which were used earlier led to an increase in CO2 composition and hampered oxygen supply which negatively affected animals Patil saidOil heaters on the contrary he said allow for automated moderation and maintain the oxygen levelIn the reptiles section including snakes we have replaced tube lights and 100watt bulbs with fluorescent and UV lights which are quite effective in maintaining temperature he saidOn other arrangements for animals winter care the zoo director said On the routine end we place paddy straws in various cells increase animals intake of food particularly immunity and metabolism boosting items like chyawanprash to primates honey and sugarcane to bearsPatil said the elephants have their own way of keeping it safe during winters However oil massage is done daily to keep them immune to winterHe estimated that around 15 to 2 litres of mustard oil is utilised for massage dailyThe Patna Zoo director emphasised that one of the major focuses this year has been to change the bloodlines of animals in the zoo through innovative changes in inbreeding patternsWe are also looking for maletomale swaps from other zoos in the country in order to change the bloodline so that animals can be prevented from certain genetic diseases Luckily we have not witnessed any considerable spread of such diseases thus far but the time has arrived to change the bloodline he saidPatil highlighted that Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park is categorised as a large zoo by the Central Zoo Authority There is a limited number of large zoos across the country and they have more or less the same species of animalsWe can swap animals particularly males across these zoos to change the bloodline of animals he stressedHe hinted that authorities here are in talks with certain international zoos to bring in some animals as part of an exchange which could serve as a point of attraction for children and is important from a conservation perspectiveLet it be a surprise element for now and get it done probably in a couple of months Patil saidHe said that the zoo administration also aims to increase attraction points in the botany section Fern and cactus houses are to be upgraded and entry areas are being beautifiedOur main focus is on cleanliness apart from the regular infrastructure upgrades Patil addedBihar CM Nitish Kumar had made a surprise visit to the zoo on Thursday and took stock of the arrangements and developmentsThe CM made a surprise visit here on Thursday and was very happy to see the developments He assured of all possible assistance from the governments side He is very positive in this regard Patil saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever