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Pet project: Friday fasts at Delhi Zoo: The Pioneer
New Delhi, May 20: Delhi Zoo seems to be on the fast track to health. The animals housed in the National Zoological Park in the Capital are now being made to fast once a week. The new food regulation has been introduced in the Delhi Zoo apparently to give rest to the stomach of the animals, including the birds, `who do not exert as much as they would in natural habitats.`
New Delhi, May 20: Delhi Zoo seems to be on the fast track to health. The animals housed in the National Zoological Park in the Capital are now being made to fast once a week. The new food regulation has been introduced in the Delhi Zoo apparently to give rest to the stomach of the animals, including the birds, "who do not exert as much as they would in natural habitats."
The day chosen for the weekly fast is Friday, when the zoo remains closed to visitors. On an average, 1,500 visitors come to the zoo daily. Friday being the weekly off, only a handful of animal-keepers report for duty. Friday has thus been thought to be the most suitable day to make the animals fast.
"Taking every aspect into consideration, it was decided that Friday be observed as a fast day for the animals, including the birds," an official said. The water birds are not provided with any meal on Friday. "They have to survive on the worms in the water," said the official.
Zoo director B S Bonal said: "Big cats are made to fast in some of the zoos. It has had very encouraging result on their health and fitness. We are looking for similar results on a much larger scale." The Friday fast norm has been in effect from early this month. "As recommended by the health committee of the zoo, the fast norm will be followed for three months to ascertain its impact on the health of the animals. If the results are encouraging, it will be continued," the zoo official said. However, some birds, like the Great Indian hornbills, are being provided with "some" food, although much less than they get on other days. Among the other animals, monkeys, including gibbons, have been excused from strict fasting. The light food for monkeys includes milk and bread.
"In summer, many animals, in particular the cats, get gastroenteritis and other stomach-related diseases, while in winter their stomach hardly gets upset. So, we want to see what kind of impact the fast has on the animals and birds," Dr N Paneer Selvam, zoo doctor, said.
"It will certainly have a positive effect on the digestive system of the animals, who don't have the freedom of movement. Their movement is confined to their enclosures," Dr Pradeep Kumar, a senior veterinarian at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said.
The animal-keepers, responsible for feeding the animals, aren't very enthused at the idea. "The birds living in the enclosures shouldn't be forced to observe fast. Unlike other birds, they don't get anything to feed on. They need to be provided," an animal keeper said.
In all, the zoo has 1,279 animals of 136 species. The break-up includes 552 mammals of 49 species, 686 birds of 76 species and 41 reptiles belonging to 11 species. It includes 28 mammals, three birds and seven reptiles, belonging to the endangered species. The zoo has around 20 big cats, including four white tigers.
"Taking every aspect into consideration, it was decided that Friday be observed as a fast day for the animals, including the birds," an official said. The water birds are not provided with any meal on Friday. "They have to survive on the worms in the water," said the official.
Zoo director B S Bonal said: "Big cats are made to fast in some of the zoos. It has had very encouraging result on their health and fitness. We are looking for similar results on a much larger scale." The Friday fast norm has been in effect from early this month. "As recommended by the health committee of the zoo, the fast norm will be followed for three months to ascertain its impact on the health of the animals. If the results are encouraging, it will be continued," the zoo official said. However, some birds, like the Great Indian hornbills, are being provided with "some" food, although much less than they get on other days. Among the other animals, monkeys, including gibbons, have been excused from strict fasting. The light food for monkeys includes milk and bread.
"In summer, many animals, in particular the cats, get gastroenteritis and other stomach-related diseases, while in winter their stomach hardly gets upset. So, we want to see what kind of impact the fast has on the animals and birds," Dr N Paneer Selvam, zoo doctor, said.
"It will certainly have a positive effect on the digestive system of the animals, who don't have the freedom of movement. Their movement is confined to their enclosures," Dr Pradeep Kumar, a senior veterinarian at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said.
The animal-keepers, responsible for feeding the animals, aren't very enthused at the idea. "The birds living in the enclosures shouldn't be forced to observe fast. Unlike other birds, they don't get anything to feed on. They need to be provided," an animal keeper said.
In all, the zoo has 1,279 animals of 136 species. The break-up includes 552 mammals of 49 species, 686 birds of 76 species and 41 reptiles belonging to 11 species. It includes 28 mammals, three birds and seven reptiles, belonging to the endangered species. The zoo has around 20 big cats, including four white tigers.