What zoos are doing in times of Covid-19 | India News

As the coronavirus lockdown continues across the country, various zoos are implementing different methods in order to keep the animals safe.Zoo gives privacy to big cats, 4 more cubs born Two zoos in Gujarat are taking varying approaches in sexual distancing. In what comes as a straight lift from some vintage royal movies, the pride of Gir, Asiatic lion couples, were given the rare luxury of having their own ‘ekant grih’ (read enclosure) inside the Sakkarbaug zoo, Junagarh, Gujarat.After the royal couple gave birth to four healthy cubs on Saturday, thus ended another round of successful mating experiment conducted by the Junagadh zoo authorities. This is not just one instance, but a litany of 21 lion cubs born in the last 10 days in the zoo are testimony to its successful captive breeding programme. medium75120205Of these lot, 18 cubs are born in Sakkarbaug zoo itself. The reasons behind the happy maternity story is a long drawn struggle by the zoo authorities who have gone by the book and behavioural management to draw the ferocious couples together in a happy union. It all begins with the zoo authority first finding a mate for the lion and the lioness from different areas. While the lioness is brought from the jungle, a few males are zoo inmates. The pairs are then kept in separate enclosures to create a conducive environment for the animals. While they were fed at regular intervals, the human presence was kept minimal to create a wild-like ambiance within the enclosure. Working on the lion pairs’ behavioural engagement, the zoo authorities also included a few colourful balls to engage them in a playful mood and dispel any natural odium between the opposite sexes. “We undertook proper management for successful mating and removed all disturbances near their enclosure, including curtains to avoid human eyes,” said Abhishek Kumar, director, Sakkarbaug zoo. The forced proximity gave desired results when the two lions became comfortable in each other’s company and even started playing inside the enclosure. The zoo officials installed CCTV cameras inside the enclosure and much to their delight registered the first flash of victory when the male tried to cuddle the female while they were both playing inside the enclosure. medium75120348According to the authorities, the 21 cubs are being taken care of in Sakkarbaug zoo at present, including the rare birth of six cubs to a lioness. Three cubs have been brought here from Ambardi safari park. They are weighed daily for assessing their growth and fed supplements if they need a milk replacement.Ahmedabad zoo implements life-saving measures Meanwhile, this zoo, is adopting an entirely different approach. While, workers across the world have been excused from meetings because of Covid, the jungle royalty at the Ahmedabad zoo has been exempted from the mating duties. “We are a zoo with breeding facilities and controlled mating is permitted at the Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden,” Bharatsinh Vivol, zoo superintendent, said. “But due to the coronavirus concerns, we have completely stopped the mating programme and we ensure that two animals are not housed in one cage.” The facility has the only nocturnal zoo in the state. The zoo has taken a series of precautions to ensure that Covid does not affect its animals. “A team of doctors makes regular rounds of every cage to check on animals' health,” Vivol said. “We examine anmals for unusual behaviour, breathing problems, running nose, and coughing.” The zoo has a lion, Ambar; two lionesses, Janki and Shreya; a tiger, Pratap; a tigress, Ananya; and a white tigress, Jumi. The zoo also has eight leopards (four males and four females). In-charge zoo superintendent Bharatsinh Vivol said that the zoo sanitises cages every alternate day. Even the walkways are being sanitised. He said that as a precaution, animals are being given vitamins and other supplementary medicines.Vivol said that utensils and equipment are properly sterilized before use. Moreover, keepers do not touch the utensils without wearing gloves and masks. He said that the zoo staff has been directed to follow a strict hygiene protocol after reaching home: put away clothes for washing, bathe, and only then meet family members. large75120463“When employees report to work, they are checked for fever. They have been directed to take leave even if they have cough and cold,” Vivol said. “So far not a single staffer has reported sick.”Zoo officials said when the lockdown was announced, the zoo had provided masks, gloves, and sanitisers to keepers and had implemented various other anti-Covid measures. Officials said that only doctors and keepers are allowed near the cages.Pune zoo initiates steps to avoid spread of coronavirus to wild lifeThe management of Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Pune, or Katraj zoo, has started taking preventive measures to curb any possibility of the spread of coronavirus from human to animals. Use of PPE kits has been made mandatory for zoo staff. Personal hygiene norms and sanitisation has been implemented strictly. The animals will have to undergo medical tests only if they are found to be symptomatic.Civic officials said they have to take steps to ensure human to animal transmission does not take place. The employees have been asked to keep two different sets of clothes. They cannot continue to wear the same clothes they wore while reaching the zoo. A separate set of clothes is a must for working at the zoo. Arrangements have been made at the entry gate of the zoo for sanitisation. medium75121129“Sanitisation of people clothes as well as the vehicles is done to make sure there isn’t any possibility of an infection. The preventive disease management protocol is being followed,” said Rajkumar Jadhav, director of the zoo. 75120716The zoo is home to nearly 440 animals of 63 different species. In total, 25 staff members, including zookeepers and veterinary doctors, directly come in contact with the animals. The symptoms in animals may include dry cough, feverish body, short of breath and food nausea. They may also appear pale. “If the tests are to be carried out, then we will have to administer anaesthesia to the animal. Then take the swab and other samples. It must be done only if it is absolutely necessary,” said Jadhav, adding that no animal in the zoo currently has any such symptoms. The likelihood of the coronavirus passing from humans to animals had come to light after a tiger at a US zoo was found to be infected.boxcontent medium75121255Corbett steps up with quarantine wards for wildlifeTransmission of the novel coronavirus to a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York, USA has led authorities at Uttarakhand's Corbett Tiger Reserve, India's oldest national park, to set up quarantine wards at its Kalagarh and Bijrani ranges for tigers, elephants and sniffer dog squads. Warden RK Tiwari told news agency IANS: "At least 10 quarantine centres are being prepared within the premises to contain animals. We are also holding talks on converting the cages built for wild animals into a quarantine facility." Also, 40 video mode cameras and 450 still mode cameras have been installed at the peripheries of the reserve to keep a tab on any abnormal behaviour by animals, which might suggest they have contracted the Covid-19 contagion. Patrolling staff have also been asked to keep watch. However, Dr Dushyant, Corbett's wildlife medical officer, believes there is less risk of animals, especially tigers, getting infected in forest areas. "However, if the animals which live near the human population come into contact with an infected person or thing, then they might get infected too," he added.