New Delhi, May 28: The polluted water of the Yamuna is no longer suitable even for animal consumption at the National Zoological Park. Delhi Zoo has stopped supplying water from the river. Instead, it is depending on the water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board and underground water. Soon after the change in its water source, the water samples were sent for testing at National Pollution Control Board. The reports are still awaited.
For many years, Yamuna water had been the sole source of supply for the seven big ponds of the Delhi Zoo. However, with the increase in the contamination level in the water, the zoo authorities stopped sourcing its water from the Yamuna. The zoo management that gets its water tested from time to time found that the toxic level of the water had gone up. “We found the level of contamination in the water from the Yamuna more than the prescribed limit so we have stopped its consumption,” curator of the Delhi Zoo, RA Khan said.
Some amount of contamination in the water and insect provide food to the water animals and birds. “Water with algae, marsh and mud content is source of food for some animals. But if toxic content in water is beyond the permissible level then it becomes dangerous for the animals, especially the aquatic ones and the birds which survive in the water bodies,” said Dr N Panneer Selvam, veterinary doctor of the zoo.
The Delhi Zoo now gets its supply from the Delhi Jal Board and also the underground reserve. The zoo has seven ponds. During the summer, animals choose to relax in these waters. Also a large number of migratory birds live around these water bodies. “The fresh water that is being pumped into the ponds is cleaner and toxin free. But it becomes important for us to test the water to know the exact status of the various mineral content and the contamination level of the water,” added the curator.
Doubts that are being raised on the death of the giraffe in the zoo because of contaminated water have also been denied by both the doctor and the curator of the zoo.
“The source of drinking water supply is same for all the animals. The death of the giraffe cannot be linked to the water. The giraffe died because of acute viral infection in the stomach,” explains the doctor. The zoo management has sent seven water samples to the National Pollution Control Board for testing the pollution level. The reports are awaited.
--Agencies--
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