- Title: INDIA: Snakes at Bhopal National Park cool down this summer
- Date: 14th April 2010
- Summary: BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (APRIL 15, 2010) (ANI) ENTRANCE GATE OF VAN VIHAR NATIONAL PARK SIGNBOARD OF SNAKE PARK MAN SPRINKLING WATER ON KING COBRA VARIOUS OF KING COBRA IN ENCLOSURE CLOSE UP OF HERPETOLOGIST SALIM KHAN NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITIES STANDING KING COBRA IN ARTIFICIAL POND SIGNBOARD OF SNAKE SPECIES (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SALIM KHAN, HERPETOLOGIST, SAYING: "The first thing we are doing is planning on putting some water fountains and we are placing some mud in the enclosures for the snakes to cool down in. We didn't have much idea about their survival so we offered them frogs and mice; then we offered them snakes as well. The snakes ate them two days later. In the past two months, they have eaten four six-foot-long snakes; this is their diet." KING COBRA IN ENCLOSURE CLOSE UP OF KING COBRA VISITOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS OF KING COBRA IN ENCLOSURE
- Embargoed: 1st May 2010 14:59
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Environment / Natural World
- Reuters ID: LVATLWPPVAH3YQK9RVBJFZIAOE3
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: As the mercury continues to climb in vast parts of India, a national park in central Madhya Pradesh state is making special cooling arrangements for their snakes.
In recent days, temperatures have surpassed 40 degrees Celsius and the King Cobras at Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal city are feeling the heat.
Authorities at the park have laid out sprinklers and created artificial ponds in the snakes' enclosures for the reptiles to cool down, and are feeding them frogs and mice.
"The first thing we are doing is planning on putting some water fountains and we are placing some mud in the enclosures for the snakes to cool down in. We didn't have much idea about their survival so we offered them frogs and mice; then we offered them snakes as well. The snakes ate them two days later. In the past two months, they have eaten four six-foot-long snakes; this is their diet," said Salim Khan, a herpetologist at the park.
The unusual circumstances have attracted hordes of visitors to the park.
Snakes are cold-blooded animals and their body temperatures are about the same as the air temperature around them.
Snakes hibernate and aestivate (a state similar to hibernation during periods of extreme heat and dryness) by going into a nearly dormant state and are thus able to adapt to their environment. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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