Visakhapatnam Zoo gears up for summer with cooling measures for animals

Visakhapatnam: As summer temperatures climb, the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) has rolled out its annual heat management plan to keep its animals comfortable across its 625-acre expanse.

A faint veil of moisture hangs in the air as water sprinklers come alive across enclosures. Under the shade of Eastern Ghats trees, khus mats drip steadily and thatched roofs soften the summer glare, while animals retreat into cooler corners of their enclosures.

Spread between forested hills and the Bay of Bengal, the zoo is settling into its seasonal rhythm of summer care. With temperatures rising outside the park’s gates, the internal landscape is carefully moderated through water, shade, diet, and routine.

Zoo officials said every enclosure carries a specific plan, with each species demanding a different response to beat the heat. The measures aim to keep animals within a narrow band of comfort during the peak summer months.