More CCTV cameras for Mysore zoo

MYSORE:  Buoyed with the death rate of newborns coming down to a great extent after CCTVs were installed inside animal enclosures, the Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens has decided to go for more such cameras now. Ten more enclosures will have cameras to the existing seven. It will help the animal keepers to monitor the newborns and save them from big ones besides observing their habits and behaviour.Most of the times, animals eat the newborns a few minutes after delivery. Monitoring through CCTV makes the job easy for officials to know each and every movement of the animal and rescue newborns. As the results were fruitful, the zoo is planning to get ten more CCTV cameras shortly and has invited quotations for the same. At present, there are seven cameras to monitor the animals and have been installed at selected enclosure. Plans have been made to install ten more cameras in coming days. CCTV cameras were introduced in 2009 at a cost of Rs 7,500 each.“By monitoring through CCTV, the officials took a critical cub for hand-rearing. The cheetah was not feeding it properly and abandoned it. We have also noticed that females stay away from males after conceiving,” zoo Chairman Nanjundaswamy said.“It also helps officials count the newborns, know their health and adjustments to the environment. Based on the study, they take further action and hand-rear newborns when required,” he added.