Dhenkanal: The sudden winter chill in many districts has affected normal life across the state.
The homeless are the worst hit as the bone-chilling cold wave has made things difficult for them. Even though the administration has started donating blankets and warm clothes many people have not got them.
The biting chill has made many animals and birds scamper for cover. Many small birds were found dead in forests due to the severe cold. Animals left outdoors are shivering in the chill, and not much has been done by officials for them.
An example is the condition of animals in Dhenkanal Kapilas Zoo. The chilling winter has made matters worse for the authorities of the zoo.
As the district has already earned a bad name for wild animal deaths due to various reasons like failure in providing medical care to ailing animals, the death of animals due to the winter chill has angered naturalists.
Animal lovers alleged that the zoo authorities were not taking adequate measures to protect the animals. The frequent deaths of animals inside the zoo have angered animal lovers, and they have demanded that the animals should be shifted to a better place.
Many animals have died this year at the zoo. Last November 30, a two-year–old elephant calf ‘Raja’ died an unnatural death. Animal lovers had alleged that the calf died due to lack of medical care.
But the post-mortem report revealed that Raja had died due to severe cold and hemorrhage, ACF Sudarshan Patra said.
Two years before Raja’s death, a female elephant calf had died due to infection. The unsafe surroundings claimed the lives of two crocodile hatchlings too.
Waking up to the situation the Forest Department has taken steps to provide a safe atmosphere to crocodile hatchlings. But despite that a crocodile died Monday due to the severe chill.
On measures taken to protect zoo animals, the DFO said, “The chilly weather has worsened the problems of caged animals. We are covering the cages with clothes and anti-cold sheets.”
Ranger Darshania Bhoi said that the medical condition of the animals was being monitored regularly.
PNN