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This winter, Mysore keeps its anacondas warm
Five green anacondas at the century-old Mysore Zoo are a great attraction. Being the only Indian zoo with these snakes, it takes care of them in style, proving separate enclosures and heaters to keep their environs amenable, at 20 to 25 degree Celsius.
This winter, with Mysore at an average 15 degrees Celsius, zoo authorities are doing their best to acclimatise the reptiles, which are a gift from Sri Lankan National Zoo. Their 40x20 feet enclosure simulates an Amazonian rainforest.
However, to the thousands who visit the zoo, they have proved a bit of a disappointment, being an antithesis to the Hollywood movies. They look just like pythons and seem to be exhibiting none of the expected viciousness projected in the film.
These non-venomous snakes, which can reach up to a length of 30 feet, are one of the longest snakes in the world. The Mysore anacondas are 15 months old and 4 to 5 feet long. They are expected to attain their full length by the time they are four to five years old. In the wild, they can weigh over 220 kg!
Zoo executive director BP Ravi said, “In captivity, the snake may grow to a length of 18 to 20 feet because of restricted physical activity. Their lifespan in the wild is about 10 years but they can live up to 20 years in captivity. They have become a real attraction at the zoo.”
The Mysore Zoo has an interesting history of its own. The zoological gardens were set up by Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar, who is acclaimed as one of the architects of modern Mysore. The zoo was called Palace Zoo when it was inaugurated in 1892.
Five green anacondas at the century-old Mysore Zoo are a great attraction. Being the only Indian zoo with these snakes, it takes care of them in style, proving separate enclosures and heaters to keep their environs amenable, at 20 to 25 degree Celsius.
This winter, with Mysore at an average 15 degrees Celsius, zoo authorities are doing their best to acclimatise the reptiles, which are a gift from Sri Lankan National Zoo. Their 40x20 feet enclosure simulates an Amazonian rainforest.
However, to the thousands who visit the zoo, they have proved a bit of a disappointment, being an antithesis to the Hollywood movies. They look just like pythons and seem to be exhibiting none of the expected viciousness projected in the film.
These non-venomous snakes, which can reach up to a length of 30 feet, are one of the longest snakes in the world. The Mysore anacondas are 15 months old and 4 to 5 feet long. They are expected to attain their full length by the time they are four to five years old. In the wild, they can weigh over 220 kg!
Zoo executive director BP Ravi said, “In captivity, the snake may grow to a length of 18 to 20 feet because of restricted physical activity. Their lifespan in the wild is about 10 years but they can live up to 20 years in captivity. They have become a real attraction at the zoo.”
The Mysore Zoo has an interesting history of its own. The zoological gardens were set up by Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar, who is acclaimed as one of the architects of modern Mysore. The zoo was called Palace Zoo when it was inaugurated in 1892.
