aurangabad with the mercury soaring over the past week aurangabad zoo authorities have initiated a slew of measures to offer animals some respite from the scorching heat authorities of the aurangabad municipal corporation amcrun siddhartha garden and zoo have installed water coolers in all the cages of tigers lions and leopards and are using water sprinklers on other animals on a regular basis aurangabad zoo incharge b s naikwade said that animals in captivity need special care during summer and that the zoo has chalked out a ninepoint programme for the protection of its animals during the upcoming summer these include installation of water coolers in all cages of tigers lions and leopards filling water in tanks in all cages to keep the environs cool sprinkling water on the cages of monkeys adding chemicals in the water to reduce body temperatures offering jaggeryadded drinking water spraying water on the cages of small animals thrice a day keep water in clay vessels in snake cages maintaining greenery all over the zoo area and spraying water on elephants twice a day naikwade said the zoo staff members would follow the programme throughout the summer till the temperature dips most animals suffer from breathlessness uneasiness and other respiratory disorders with the soaring temperature sometimes they consume less than their normal diet and ultimately lose weight naikwade said carnivores like tigers lions and leopards show these signs more prominently he said these animals do not indulge in any physical activity during the afternoon and prefer to stay in the shade of their cages we take extra care of these animals water coolers have been installed in all the cages of these animals naikwade said the zoo has placed specially designed clay pots filled with water in cages holding snakes snakes stay close to these vessels to maintain body temperature he said the aurangabad zoo houses about 189 animals including carnivores herbivores reptiles and birds it has five royal bengal tigers four white tigers two leopards two hyenas two elephants 89 snakes 42 blackbucks and three crocodiles among others