The long and intense heat spells attributed to climate change, has of late posed discomfort to animals in the State Zoo. Though most of the animals out of the 750 at the zoo are indigenous, still the climate change that has been triggering erratic monsoons and water scarcity has prompted the zoo authorities to adopt a special summer care regime for the animals since the last couple of years. Apart from regulation of their diet, some of the species have been requiring artificial watering to keep their nerves cool in the scorching season. The giraffe, the African rhino, the hippopotamus have no doubt got acclimatised to the conditions here, but the fluctuation in the temperatures which have been more palpable in recent years, has necessitated special care during the summer. "The natural conditions in the State Zoo create the suitable ambience for the animals. But since the last two years, the rising temperatures have necessitated adoption of some specific measures to give a cooling effect to the animals,' said Narayan Mahanta, DFO, State Zoo. It may be mentioned here that the zoo authorities have been taking special care of the animals during the winter season like providing raised wooden platform, closing the openings in the enclosures that bring the chilling wind, filling the habitats with hay etc depending on their age and other physical conditions. "As the temperatures were not that scalding, we did not have to take special care of the animals during the summer. But now things have changed,' said Mahanta. The zoo at present boasts of 11 Royal Bengal Tigers, 5 rhinos, 5 hippopotamus, 9 elephants, 9 lions, 15 common leopards, 16 Himalayan black bears, 8 jungle cats, 12 leopard cats besides the different species of reptiles, birds etc. During the summer, the trees become the saviour of the animals particularly the tigers who seek out the shade unlike the rhinos, which enjoy their mud bath. The artificial rain is most important for the rhinos, because it replenishes their disappearing muddy and watery ground under the blazing skies. "For the artificial rain or watering the animals we call in the fire brigade,' said Mahanta adding that the animals are being closely observed and if they show any sign of summer discomfort, the fire brigades would be called immediately. Mahanta further said that different measures would be considered if the conditions compel and the measures in use so far fall short to stand to the summer heat this year.