Inhabitants of Delhi zoo beat the heat with coolers, sprays

The National Zoological Park, popularly known as Delhi Zoo, on Wednesday saw the birth of a hippopotamus.

The National Zoological Park, popularly known as Delhi Zoo, on Wednesday saw the birth of a hippopotamus.

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With the newborn, the population of the hippos has now increased to seven. The zoo already houses three adult couples.

“The overwhelming heat is preventing the baby hippo from stepping out of water. Since its birth, it has been in water with its mother,” said Riaz Khan, zoo’s curator (education).

With Delhi’s maximum temperature touching 45.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the zoo administration is regularly spraying water on the green nets of the birds’ enclosures and other smaller animals.

This year, internal roads too are being sprayed with water to facilitate visitors. “We also have coolers for the big cats, lions and bear among others,” said Zoo director AK Agnihotri.

The sprawling zoo has more than 1,200 inhabitants, including mammals, reptiles and birds, who are fighting the cruel heat.