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        Wild pigs, bisons, deer and elephants can be seen happily wallowing in slushy mud banks in their enclosures at the Aringnar Anna Zoological Park, just as they would do so in the wild. But one would be surprised to hear that this mud-bath is part of an elaborate, well-planned strategy by the zoo authorities to protect these animals from the heat.

        Apart from hours of fun and frolic in the water, the zoo's Summer Management Programme (SMP) also means a different cuisine, provision of water troughs and a new regimen for all the zoo's denizens.

        Succulent watermelons, musk melons, sugarcanes and cucumbers are on the menu for the large herbivores, while our feathered friends get an additional serving of fruits with their usual quota of seeds and nuts. But it is the reptiles who really seem to be having it good, what with AC accommodation at the Reptilian House.

        'All the animals love a dip in the water and we have tried to ensure that the water troughs are continually filled. With every plunge into the trough, the animal almost empties out all its contents. So we keep checking if the troughs are filled to the brim,' says Dr Bhaskeran, Zoologist, Vandalur Zoo.

        And if its AC for the reptiles, its water coolers for the civet cats, porcupines, jungle cats, owls and others at the nocturnal animal house.

        'A sprinkler system is also in place for the zebras and giraffes. Thatched roof shelters can be seen put up in the enclosures for the bears and the big cats. In the bird house, apart from the bird baths, wet jut bags can be seen hanging from the ceiling,' said one of the handlers, adding that the funniest sight was to see chimpanzees guzzling down quarts of buttermilk, while dribbling it all over their faces.

        'We have had no instances of animals going down with a sun stroke so far. We have also taken extra precautionary measures for the Rescue Centre because the yards for the big cats are mostly open spaces with less number of trees,' said Dr Bhaskeran.

        'We have tried to recapture their natural world as much as possible. And all animals like to wallow in the mud not just for the heat but so that the dirt forms a protective layer against parasites. The moats built to keep animals from escaping come in handy to cool themselves this season,' said Chief Conservator of Forests and Zoo director P L Anandaswamy.