Cuttack, April 28: The municipal corporation has put in place special arrangements for animals at the deer park to keep them hydrated and cool in the searing heat this summer.

"The special arrangements include use of water sprinklers and change in diet. We have introduced this in consultation with a veterinary specialist to protect the animals from dehydration," mayor Meenakshi Behera said today.

Established in 1983, the civic body looks after the deer park at Madhusudan Nagar on the banks of Mahanadi river. The park at present has 186 deer spread over a two and half acre area. Of them 66 are male, 101 are female and the rest are fawns.

Usually, the dietary intake of the deer population includes animal feed along with grass.

"But we have introduced a special diet in addition to their regular diet in view of the scorching heat," said Ramjan Khan, the local councillor of ward No. 16.

"Besides, water sprinklers are being used at periodic intervals to ensure that the ground inside the park remains cool all throughout the day," Khan said.

The park caretaker Sudam Samal said summer plans usually include supplementary diet and temporary sheds to protect the deer from direct sunrays.

"Under the summer preparations, dietary intake of the deer has been supplemented by special fruits rich in water content such as watermelon and cucumbers along with cabbage and spinach," Samal said.For the deer at the park, the municipal corporation daily provides 20kg of watermelon, 20kg of cucumber, 10kg of cabbage and 60 bundles of spinach costing around Rs 950.

"As part of the summer food plan, water is being provided along with Glucon - D in the 20 permanent water containers across the park," the caretaker said.

"This special diet is in addition to the animal feed once in a day and 40 bags (each 30 kg) grass distributed twice in a day - at 12 noon and 4pm," he added.

Overcrowding of deer at the park had triggered urgent necessity of translocation of excess animals to another deer park in the city. Norms permit three to five deer to an acre.

The civic body plans to open the second deer park over a 39 acre plot of land near Naraj at Mundali on the eastern fringe of the city.

CMC officials said the district administration had already been asked to provide the identified land to facilitate construction of the proposed second deer park.