Zookeepers dance to animal tunes at Byculla

It is payback time for the animals in Mumbai's zoo. A recent Bombay high court order, aimed at improving their condition, has zookeepers scratching their heads to come up with creative ways to keep the animals happy, entertained, and busy.

Explaining that the challenge is to develop a variety of programmes for the many types of animals in the zoo, Dr MV Wani, deputy superintendent, Veermata Jijabai Bhosle Udyan, Byculla, said, "Different animals respond to stimulus differently. The same plan cannot work for all the animals we have here. We are seeking the help of experts on animal behaviour and using our own experience to develop the plan."

So now animals, too, get to play hide-n-seek.

As part of the programme, "We will not offer food to them on a platter," Wani said. "They will have to find it in the open moats. They will try to reach the food even if it is beyond their reach."

This plan, he said, will apply especially to carnivores like lions and tigers, which are lazy by nature and sleep for most of the day. "They use their energy only to search for food," he said.

For the hippos, there are water sports, "A system is being designed that will allow the hippos to swim in running water. Even a fountain might be installed," Wani explained.

In fact, all the animals will get to drink flowing water at the artificial river that the zoo is planning. "This will be possible when an open enclosure within the zoo is developed, the blueprint of which has already been made. We are discussing with our engineers what best environment enrichment can be provided to the animals to reduce stereotypical behaviour."

Playing tools like woolen balls and logs are also being developed. "The balls will be for the sloth bears. They love to dig loose soil, so there will be an area designed for that," he said.

Zookeepers will also provide logs, which the animals can use for sharpening their claws. For monkeys, more trees and swings will be put in place.