In the forests of Malnad, elephants, tigers bear brunt of summer heat

Shivamogga: Not just people but animals too are suffering in the heat wave across the Malnad.

While the wildlife at the Tyavarekoppa zoo-cum-safari and elephants in Sakrebylu near Shivamogga have enough water to drink, the authorities are taking all precautions to make sure they don’t  suffer from a heat stroke or dehydration.

The around 240 wild animals and birds, including eight tigers, two lions and 21 leopards,  at Tyavarekoppa, are being provided with nutritious supplements along with their food by zoo staff. For instance, the tigers, lions and leopards are being supplied drinking water containing electrolytes and are  being fed less meat than usual to make sure they don’t  have stomach upsets due to the heat.

Says zoo veterinarian, Vinay,   “The heat wave leads to deficiency of vitamins among wild animals. So they are being provided with meat containing Sharkoferrol to enhance their iron levels and 200 grams of  glucose  is being mixed with their drinking water to improve their energy levels. During summer tigers love to remain in water for a long period and so small ponds have been created for them,” he says.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife),  Siva Shankar says there is no drinking water  shortage either at the  zoo or at the elephants' camp at Sakrebylu.

“The water level is quite high in the  60 tanks in the Shettihalli forest region, the habitat of elephants. Besides, the backwaters of river Tunga are also nearby,” he points out.