With temperatures hitting 43 degrees Celsius – the highest this summer (even before full blast arrives) has seen – Hyderabad Nehru Zoological Park is worried about the animals under its care.

Different types of animals will be affected in different ways by the rising temperature.

The animals, birds and reptiles are to be watered regularly, so that their bodies do not feel the heat too much. To ensure that they remain hydrated, water, glucose water, coconut water, muskmelon, watermelons, citrus fruits, special electrolytes and other liquids are to be given to animals which require it. Air-coolers have been arranged for almost all the enclosures.

Zoo authorities have set up wallowing points, water and mud points, the deer, wild boar and tortoise, so that they can cover their bodies with mud in order to lessen the effects of the heat.

Assistant Curator Sree Devi Saraswathi, told The News Minute that air coolers too had been arranged for the animals. ‘Thunga' grass had been spread over the night houses and bird cages, gunny cloth has been used to cover the bird enclosures.

“We are keeping a regular check on all these things, if observe any problems we tackle them immediately,” she said.

“Watering every three hours and use of water sprinklers and water fogging machines are some of the other measures we are taking during summers. We are trying to maintain atleast 5 degrees’ lesser temperature then outside,” she said.