Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park in Bokaro has started making preparations to keep its inmates warm with the temperature dropping below 20°C.

The minimum temperature in Bokaro stood at 18.1°C on Monday.

The administration of the zoo, owned by Bokaro Steel Limited, has installed heaters in the leopard enclosure that shelters three adults (two females and one male ) and three cubs (two males and one female).

Wooden planks have been laid on the floor of the enclosures of the lone tigress, lioness and the leopards to keep them warm because the cemented floor turns cold and moist during winter nights.

At night, the leopard enclosure is covered by gunny curtains to keep out the cold air. They are removed during the day to let in the sunlight.

Tree branches that were blocking the sun rays from entering the enclosures of deer and black buck have also been pruned.

The zoo administration has procured straws to be spread on the ground of the deer enclosure once the minimum temperature dips to 15°C.

There are 60 deer in Bokaro zoo.

“We started taking these measures immediately after the spell of rain before Diwali when the minimum temperature dropped below 20°C. We will also introduce heaters in the enclosures of the tigress and the lioness if the temperature drops further. We have started adding calcium and vitamin A in the food of both the herbivorous and carnivorous animals,” zoo director Gautam Chakravarty told The Telegraph on Monday.

Mahua flowers and soya beans, that are rich in protein, are being provided to the herbivores, Chakravarty said.

“The tigress and lioness are being provided 10kg and 8 kg of goat meat, respectively, every day. The adult leopards are being given 5kg of chicken per day. The reptiles go into hibernation during the winter season and don’t need any food during the period. They will come out only in March,” Chakravarty said.

He said the reptiles use the fat stored in their body to sustain themselves during hibernation.

Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park, which was established in 1989, is a small category zoo recognised by the Central Zoo Authority. There are around 230 animals and birds in the zoo that is spread over 127 acres.

Over 5,000 people visit it during the peak season of December-January.