Hyderabad zoo closed down due to flooding

HYDERABAD: The latest downpour flooded large areas in the Nehru Zoological Park after overflow from Mir Alam tank gushed into the zoo even as authorities struggled to pump out water from animal moats.Most animals remained holed up inside their night shelters while some enclosures got partly submerged.At other places, animals moved towards high altitude spots to escape the rising water level. Enclosures housing elephants, lions, bears, monkeys, hyenas, emus, deer and blackbucks were flooded by late evening. The crocodile enclosure, near the entrance, also saw dangerously high water levels.Several species of birds and animals had started showing signs of illness following which zoo authori ties started administering B-complex syrup and adding oral antibiotics in animal feeds as preventive measure.With more water flowing in from Mir Alam tank, zoo in from Mir Alam tank, zoo authorities were on tenterhooks and were hoping for rains to stop."At the moment we have things under control, but if there is heavy rain any further the situation will be different. Also, it is extremely difficult to evacuate big carnivores. A majority of our staff is constantly monitoring the situation," said Dr Abdul Hakim, veterinary assistant director. Other officials said they had put in place plans of emergency evacuation.A tour of the affected areas in the afternoon revealed how animals were coping with water in their enclosures -with hyenas resting near a pool of dirty water that had seeped in, tortoises wallowing in filthy slush, bears agitated with the swell in the water level in the moat, which was nearly submerged by late evening.The principal chief conservator of forest, chief wildlife warden, GHMC engineers and officials from the irrigation department visited the zoo to take stock of the situation, and pressed in labour and water pumps to clear out water from enclosure and moats.Zoo curator Shivani Dogra said the current situation was a result of the lack of adequate number of water outlets. "We need to build vents with larger outlets. At the moment, the large volume of water coming in from the tank does not get channelled out," she said, adding that "animals will be allowed access to the display area as currently there is a danger of them falling sick after drinking dirty water."Veterinarian Dr Hakim said, "Animal enclosures are being treated with disinfectants. Some birds have already fallen sick and more were likely to get affected."