Animals fed ice-cream in Coimbatore Zoo to beat the heat

Animals residing in the Coimbatore zoo being fed ice creams, watermelons, and other citrus fruits to help them beat the heat.

"We are facing so may problems regarding heat stroke...for that...to maintain the animals and also the birds...to keep them cool, we are, instead of giving them regular feed; we are concentrating on giving ice cream as well as watermelon ", said Perumalsamy, the director of the zoo at Voc Park in Coimbatore.

Pelicans are being fed fish with added doses of vitamins; other birds are also getting their meals with vitamins added to them.

The zoo authorities are even spraying water in the cages regularly to make the animals and birds feel more comfortable in the summer.

Visitors find the new initiative intriguing and feel such steps would benefit the animals.

"This is something new and this is for the first time I am witnessing this here. Moreover, the initiative taken by the zoo officials to protect the monkeys and other animals during this hot summer is something great," said Radha, a visitor.

This initiative would continue till the summer ends.