Post News Network
Cuttack, March 22: Despite a marked rise in temperature in the silver city in the last few days, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has taken few steps to protect the inmates of the famous deer park located at Madhusudhan Nagar in Tulasipur.
Sources said no special arrangements have been made by the civic body to provide relief to the deer from the heat. There are at present only two permanent structures where the animals assemble for food and water.
However, a senior CMC official said the civic body ensures that the deer at the park are given sufficient water to drink during summer. “We are making all efforts to ensure that there are no casualties due to the heat wave. Water sprinklers would also be used every day to bring down the temperature inside the park,” the official added.
CMC commissioner Gyana Ranjan Das said adequate steps are being taken to protect the animals from the heat wave. “Fruits with extra water content, such as watermelon and cucumber, are being given to the deer daily,” Das said.
Besides, veterinary doctors have also been engaged for medical check-up of the animals on a regular basis. “Two more temporary rest sheds would be set up within a week,” Das added.
Arrangements have also been made to ensure there is adequate drinking water so that animals do not suffer from dehydration, the CMC commissioner said.
Managed by the CMC, the Madhusudan Nagar deer park established in 1981 is now heavily overpopulated.
There are now as many as 163 deer spread over 2.5 acres of the deer park, as against the prescribed norms of three to five deer in an acre of land. Another 12 acres are required to suitably accommodate the deer, say experts.
Sources said the CMC dragged its feet on the directive from officials of the Central Zoo Authority who had directed it way back in 2009 to shift the park to a spacious location which would be able to accommodate the deer.
