Crocodiles feel the heat at Byculla zoo

[faze]

Crocodiles feel the heat at Byculla zoo
By: A Mid Day Correspondent
October 16, 2004
http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2004/october/94879.htm

The four-odd crocodiles at the Jijamata Udyan at Byculla love to sunbathe. Or so it would seem.

The truth, however, is that the reptiles have no choice since the floor of the enclosure has been leaking for a while now, leaving their pool almost dry.

According to zoo authorities, the floor of the enclosure needs urgent repairs.

They added that People for Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) had assured the zoo that it would help with funds towards the repairs. “But now they say they do not have the funds. As a result, the matter is left hanging,” said an official.

PETA’s Anuradha Sawhney, however, states that there was no commitment about money. “PETA had only promised to make the zoo enclosures better and add value to them.

That’s already been done for the other enclosures. We never said anything about giving money,” said Sawhney.

She added that zoo officials had been specifically told that the amount of Rs 3.5 lakh required for repairing the floor of the crocodile enclosure had to come from the municipal corporation; PETA could not garner the funds.

However, zoo officials argue that it is easy for NGOs to come forward and make frivolous suggestions to improve the zoo and enclosures.

“There are crucial issues at the zoo and funding is a significant part. PETA had definitely assured that they would give us the money,” said the zoo official.

The official also added that funds in the municipal corporation are allocated at the start of the financial year, and it would be extremely difficult to get funding in the middle of the year.

Meanwhile, until the matter is resolved, the crocodiles will continue to feel the heat.

Why crocodiles need water: Water is the most important nutrient for reptiles like the crocodile and it is essential for it to have an easily accessible water source.

Also, most reptiles need to soak in order to shed their skin appropriately. In the wild, if crocodiles do not find a regular source of water, they migrate over land to find a water body.

Smaller crocodiles are more susceptible to dehydration, but even larger crocodiles can only survive for a certain period without water. Though, the later can go for a while without water but only as long as they are not active.