To avoid rerun of 2017, Hyderabad zoo braces for monsoon woes

HYDERABAD: After showers accompanied by strong winds caused havoc at the Nehru Zoological Park and claimed the life of a woman in April, the zoo authorities are is now readying themselves to tackle inundation during the impending monsoon season.
Spread across 380 acres and located next to Mir Alam Tank, the zoo faces inundation almost every monsoon with water entering its 100-acre Safari Park, animal moats and enclosures.
The preparations are also to prevent a rerun of the nightmarish experience of 2017, when the zoo had to be shut down for many days after water from Mir Alam Tank flooded the premises.
Zoo curator, N Kshitija, said: “Authorities will maintain a constant vigil on the water levels of Mir Alam tank this time , and the water flow. There will be regular field inspections to check inlets, and water levels around the Mir Alam tank. There is a proposal to construct a sewerage plant as well.”
Kshitija said, “We will take all precautions to ensure flood water does not enter the enclosures or moats. Even if water enters the zoo premises, it will clear out immediately, posing no danger either to the animals or visitors.”
She said officials are working on precautionary measures, and they have already cleared all the water channels on the premises.
Last year, the zoo authorities had constructed a weir on Singoli lake, and a water channel, which starts at the entrance of the Tiger safari and will connect with the Musi river.
The veterinary officials at the zoo are conducting regular hygiene checks of food and drinking water being served to the animals to ensure they are not at any kind of risk.
Zoo deputy director and veterinarian, Dr MA Hakeem, said, “It is a regular procedure that we follow, and we are all set to tackle the monsoon this year.
“Apart from the regular vaccination, deworming, we give antibiotics to the animals as a preventive measure, and also add bleaching powder in the moats to clean the water.”
The preparations are also to prevent a rerun of the nightmarish experience of 2017, when the zoo had to be shut down for many days after water from Mir Alam Tank flooded the premises.