Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the Wildlife and Parks Department to implement comprehensive measures to protect animals and birds from extreme heat, prompting the provincial government to issue detailed summer guidelines for all zoos and wildlife parks across Punjab.
CM orders comprehensive heat protection measures for zoo, wildlife park animals
LAHORE, Jul 01 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the Wildlife and Parks Department to implement comprehensive measures to protect animals and birds from extreme heat, prompting the provincial government to issue detailed summer guidelines for all zoos and wildlife parks across Punjab.
Acting on the chief minister’s directions, the Directorate General of Wildlife and Parks Punjab has made it mandatory for all wildlife parks and zoos to ensure uninterrupted availability of clean drinking water, cooling arrangements and other emergency measures to safeguard animals during the ongoing heatwave.
Under the guidelines, clean drinking water must remain available round the clock in every cage, enclosure and animal habitat, while food and water are to be placed in shaded areas. Zoo authorities have also been directed to provide adequate shelters according to the number of animals and adopt additional protective measures in view of rising temperatures.
Special arrangements have been ordered for heat-sensitive species, including lions, bears and monkeys. Fans are to be installed in animal enclosures, while air coolers, ice, bathing pools and water sprinklers suited to different species are to be provided during periods of extreme heat.
The government has further directed zoo administrations to shear animals where appropriate, administer anti-stress supplements such as glucose and vitamin C, and ensure immediate veterinary treatment for animals showing signs of heat stress. Officers in charge of wildlife parks and zoos have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the summer guidelines.
Meanwhile, Lahore Safari Park has introduced ice fruit pops for giraffes to help them stay cool during the hot weather. Wildlife experts and veterinary doctors have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a modern enrichment technique that supports physical cooling, improves animal welfare and promotes mental stimulation during extreme summer conditions.
