THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:A nocturnal animal house, to be introduced in Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Garden as part of its Master Plan, intends to reverse sleep cycle of nocturnal animals. While activists fear that this might induce stress in the animals, experts differ in perspective.
Such an exhibit is meant to trick the animal to think that it is night when it is day, as visitors often complain about not seeing nocturnal animals. Porcupine at the City Zoo is most notorious for disappointing visitors, by staying out of the view. While visitors imagine tragic tales of the animal’s demise, it would be napping in its burrow, away from the prying eyes.
If the nocturnal animal house is made, porcupine, jungle cat and barn owl will be shifted here.
Dr Ashish Sutar, who works as a veterinarian with People for Ethical Treatment to Animals (PETA) India, says, “The stress for nocturnal animals is considerable as they are forced to be on display during the day in contradiction to their natural body clocks, often in small glass cases which severely restrict their movement. Artificial lights are kept bright enough to allow zoo visitors to see nocturnal animals, which may still upset the animals, potentially causing negative effects on their behaviour, health and even reproduction.”
Some experts are of the opinion that a nocturnal animal house can bring down stress levels as compared to a normal exhibit. Dr George Chandy, Officer-in-charge, Centre for Wildlife Studies, Pookode, says, “A nocturnal animal in an open cage is disturbed always, as visitors would disturb it during its sleep time. In comparison, a nocturnal house allows the animal undisturbed sleep.”
He says that the glass partition between the visitors and the animals can be used to cut out noise during day. The light intensity can be as per nocturnal animal house standards, he says. In addition, he suggests that the timing of visiting such an exhibit can be after sunset. This will be in rhythm with the activity-rest pattern of the animal, he says.
Quite an old concept, such exhibits are already functioning across the country at zoos like the ones at Hyderabad, Mysore and Chennai. However, in most cases, zoos have failed to deliver, as animals find new ways to don their invisibility cloaks.
Moreover, the bad air circulation in the darkened exhibit areas, coupled with the natural stench of animals like porcupine and honey badger, adds up to an unpleasant experience for the visitor.
In answer, Kamala Nehru Zoological Park, at Ahmedabad, is about to design an enclosure with geo-thermal air circulation, in which air from the enclosure is blown out and replaced with fresh air, through geo-thermal pipes. The 9,000 sq m enclosure is an ambitious project that costs over Rs 13 crore, according to Dr R K Sahu, the zoo director.
The city zoo has a lot of homework to do before it builds its own nocturnal animal enclosure. Dr Jacob Alexander, veterinary surgeon here, says, “We are even exploring a possibility where we keep cameras inside the burrows of porcupines, so that neither the animal nor the visitor is unhappy. The cost needs to be kept to a minimum. We have to research a lot, before starting out on the project.”