Acting on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab government has ordered comprehensive measures to protect animals and birds from extreme heat in zoos and wildlife parks across the province.
The chief minister directed the Wildlife and Parks Department to ensure uninterrupted availability of drinking water and cooling arrangements for animals. The Directorate General of Wildlife and Parks Punjab has also issued formal summer guidelines, making it mandatory for all parks and zoos to implement emergency heat mitigation measures.
According to the official directives, clean drinking water must be available round the clock in every cage, enclosure and animal habitat. Food and water are to be placed in shaded areas, while adequate shelters should be provided according to the number of animals. Additional protective measures have also been ordered in view of the prevailing heatwave.
The guidelines call for special arrangements for heat-sensitive species, including lions, bears and monkeys. Fans are to be installed in animal enclosures, while air coolers and ice are to be provided during periods of extreme heat. Bathing pools for lions, bears and monkeys, along with water sprinklers suited to the needs of different species, have also been directed.
The government has further instructed zoo authorities to undertake shearing of animals where appropriate, administer anti-stress supplements including glucose and vitamin C, and ensure immediate veterinary treatment in cases of heat stress. All officers in charge of wildlife parks and zoos have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the summer guidelines.
Meanwhile, the Lahore Safari Park has introduced ice fruit pops for giraffes to help them cope with soaring temperatures.
Wildlife experts and veterinary doctors have welcomed the initiative, describing ice fruit pops as a modern enrichment technique that helps maintain animals’ physical cooling, health and mental stimulation during extreme weather conditions.