Zoo to be open through May, stress on animals may increase, say veterinarians
Oppili.P@timesgroup.com
Chennai: 06.05.2018
The animals at the Vandalur zoo will have no respite this month as the authorities have decided the facility will in May remain open on all the four Tuesdays that were until now holidays.
The decision has not gone down wellwithwildlife veterinarians with one of them saying the very idea of closing the zoo for a day was aimed at giving them rest and to relieve them from the stress they weresubjectedto. Nowthat there will be no holidays, the stress could lead to health problems and even affect their reproductive behaviour, he said.
Others said that that cleaning of enclosures, moats and surrounding areas and clearing of the tonnes of garbage left over by visitors, taken up on closed on holidays in a practice followed internationally, will no longer pe possible A wildlife official said that the reptiles, especially snakes, would be the worst affected as they move according to vibrations on land. The huge crowds that are now set to throng their enclosures, some of them resorting to uncalled for gestures like tappin gon the windows, will subject them to severe stress that could have a negative impact, he said.
Such warnings do not, however, seem to have been heeded by the zoo who appear only thrilled that in April the revenue was ₹1 crore and is expected to go up further. On an average, about 8,000 visitors including children make a beeline to the zoo on weekdays and this number is doubled on weekends, said officials.
They said that as part of the effort to bring down incidence of vandalism by visitors they had formed a cycle squad this year.
Each four-mebr team will move around the vast facility, educating those trying to create problem or throwing waste into the enclosures. The squad members will also carry first aid kit that could come in handy in an emergency, an official said.
NEEDING A BREATHER: Since there will be no holidays, the stress on animals could lead to health problems and even affect their reproductive behaviour
Oppili.P@timesgroup.com
Chennai: 06.05.2018
The animals at the Vandalur zoo will have no respite this month as the authorities have decided the facility will in May remain open on all the four Tuesdays that were until now holidays.
The decision has not gone down wellwithwildlife veterinarians with one of them saying the very idea of closing the zoo for a day was aimed at giving them rest and to relieve them from the stress they weresubjectedto. Nowthat there will be no holidays, the stress could lead to health problems and even affect their reproductive behaviour, he said.
Others said that that cleaning of enclosures, moats and surrounding areas and clearing of the tonnes of garbage left over by visitors, taken up on closed on holidays in a practice followed internationally, will no longer pe possible A wildlife official said that the reptiles, especially snakes, would be the worst affected as they move according to vibrations on land. The huge crowds that are now set to throng their enclosures, some of them resorting to uncalled for gestures like tappin gon the windows, will subject them to severe stress that could have a negative impact, he said.
Such warnings do not, however, seem to have been heeded by the zoo who appear only thrilled that in April the revenue was ₹1 crore and is expected to go up further. On an average, about 8,000 visitors including children make a beeline to the zoo on weekdays and this number is doubled on weekends, said officials.
They said that as part of the effort to bring down incidence of vandalism by visitors they had formed a cycle squad this year.
Each four-mebr team will move around the vast facility, educating those trying to create problem or throwing waste into the enclosures. The squad members will also carry first aid kit that could come in handy in an emergency, an official said.
NEEDING A BREATHER: Since there will be no holidays, the stress on animals could lead to health problems and even affect their reproductive behaviour
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