Patna zoo adds Chyawanprash to its menu to protect chimpanzees from cold

Patna zoo is gearing up to protect its animals from the cold winter months. The authorities are planning to take extra care of the animals by making heating arrangements and also modifications to their diets.
For example - wooden planks have been placed in the cages of the carnivorous animals like tiger, lion so that they can rest there and can be saved from coming in direct contact with the cold ground. Then there are machans (makeshift shelters) installed in the cages of smaller cats such as leopard cats. And - there are heating arrangements like bulbs in the cages of birds - the wires have been properly covered. In addition, heat blowers have been placed in the lion, tiger, chimpanzee and bear cages.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 1 December 2016.

Other measures to counteract the cold season is that all ventilators of the cages have been covered with bamboo straw to keep the cages warm. Some of the enclosures of the animals have been redone with beds made of straw and hay.
As to diet - the quantity of eggs and chicken has been increased for the lion, tiger and other carnivorous animals. Lions were earlier given 9-Kg of chicken, now the quantity has been increased to 13-Kg. Chyawanprash and eggs have been added in the menu of the chimpanzee and the deer is being fed mahua - this fruit can generate high energy.
Sloth bears and the Himalayan bears are being provided with heaters, apart from warm straw padding and more meat. Regarding snakes - blankets and high-voltage bulbs have been provided in their cages to keep them warm.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

President Pranab Mukherjee to be present for Vikramshila Mahotsav

Baliyatra fair on the banks of the Mahanadi sees over one lakh visitors on opening day

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to bury the hatchet and work together to fight terrorism


Lord Shiva and long ATM queues - bullock carts and ATM don't gel (satire)

Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)


Spanish police arrest two suspected ISIS terrorists in Barcelona and Madrid

At least 52 killed and more than 100 injured in a bomb blast at a remote Sufi shrine in Pakistan

Joint action by RFA, Royal Navy and US Coast Guard nets huge haul of cocaine from the sea


La La Land to have its Indian premiere at the Jio MAMI Film Club

Jackie Chan gets an Oscar after a 56-year career

Spider-Man: Homecoming will see Michael Keaton as Spider-Man's main adversary Vulture

Patna zoo on its way to set up a record for one-horned rhino population

Patna's Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park could soon earn the distinction of hosting the highest number of captive one-horned rhinoceroses (or rhinoceros unicornis or Indian rhinoceros) in a zoo around the world. At present this biological park (also known as Patna zoo), has 10 one-horned rhinos and this is just one short of the number of rhinos in San Diego Zoo, California, US.
The number could soon change since a couple of the female rhinos in Patna zoo are expected to give birth in the next few months.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 6 October 2016.

Patna zoo is already the number one in Asia on this aspect and could become number one globally. The one-horned rhino is considered to be the largest in size and weight among the five existing species of the mammal, including the white, black, Sumatran and Javan rhinos and Patna zoo has five males and an equal number of female one-horned rhinos.
As per data provided by the zoo, 77 zoos across the world house around 200 rhinos and San Diego and Patna hold the top two spots for the largest number of rhinos in captivity. Basel Zoo in Switzerland has witnessed the highest number of live births of the Indian rhinoceros.
Incidentally, these animals reach a height of over two metres and on an average weigh up to 2,200kg. Horn of these species can reach a length of two feet and is the reason behind the poaching of this endangered animal. The horn is used in traditional medicine, and is also known for its ornamental value. The life-span of one-horned rhinoceros is around 40 years in the wild and around 47 years in captivity or in a protected environment. The age of those at Patna zoo is around three to 28 years.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

Taiwan struck by Typhoon Megi, third typhoon in two weeks

Terrorist alarm in Uran was the figment of a 12-year-old schoolgirl's imagination

Tourist season in Kaziranga National Park to start from October 1 instead of November 1


Moody is off mood – Na Buzz had fooled him again (satire)

Didi’s version of ABCD - cycle to work to bypass potholes (satire)

Goddess Durga and her kids wait for the annual bash (satire)


9300 people killed in Russian airstrikes in Syria during last year

MH17 flight shot down by rocket over Ukraine in 2014 was work of pro-Moscow rebels

Shooting in Burlington - gunman on the run after shooting dead four women in a shopping center


Mark Wahlberg talks about movie on Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico

Adele creates a record - her latest album 25 has gone platinum in the US

Movie memorabilia go under the hammer - Batman's batpod fetches £312,000

Patna Zoo to instal electronic gates to restrict entry of morning walkers and joggers

Patna Zoo is probably the only zoo in the country where people come for early morning walks and for jogging. Therefore, a pass system is planned to be introduced at the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, commonly known as Patna zoo. The intention is to to prohibit jogging at the zoo before sunrise and after sunset (early morning and late evening walks).
Right now, the zoo gates are open for joggers from 5.30am till 7pm and this adversely affects the nocturnal activities of animals and their breeding pattern.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 22 July 2016.

Authorities have started procuring new electronic gates with radio-frequency readers and these will be installed at the zoo. The proposal of pass system is not new. It has been in the pipeline for quite some time. In fact, in 2011, the then deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also held the portfolio of forests, had announced the introduction of the pass system. But, it could not be implemented due to protests from joggers.
The charges for monthly passes at that time were fixed at Rs 60 and Rs 150 for one and three months, respectively. The Central Zoo Authority CZA, had pointed out that no other zoo in the country allows morning walkers and suggested that Patna zoo be kept free of morning walkers. However, people from all walks of life and of various professions like politicians, bureaucrats, advocates, doctors, engineers, educationists, actors and youngsters, go for regular walks to the zoo.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Boost to religious tourism - 2.3-Km permanent bridge planned from Beyt Dwarka to Okha mainland

Boeing celebrates 100-years of manufacturing aircraft

Spanish Talgo trying to impress the lovers of Bullet trains with its peformance


Yoga and khadi gel with Baba and Moody (satire)

Didi wants to promote small scale industries (satire)

Lord Shiva feels rains are the best option for cleaning (satire)


80 killed and over 100 injured in Nice as truck rams into revelers celebrating Bastille Day

Failed coup attempt in Turkey - 161 people killed and 1,440 wounded

Synthetic marijuana sees 33 people collapse simultaneously on the streets of New York


Leonardo DiCaprio to donate USD 15.7 million to help solve environmental issues

Shah Rukh Khan could make a movie on tennis star Sania Mirza

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr rejoin to bring back the era of The Beatles