A faint veil of moisture hangs in the air as water sprinklers come alive across enclosures at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP). Under the shade of the trees and hills of the Eastern Ghats, khus mats drip steadily, thatched roofs soften the summer glare and animals retreat into cooler corners of their enclosures. The zoo, spread across 625 acres between forested hills and the Bay of Bengal, is settling into its annual rhythm of summer management.

As temperatures rise outside the park’s gates, the internal landscape is carefully moderated. Water, shade, diet and routine work together to hold animals within a narrow band of comfort. Here, every enclosure carries a plan; every species demands a different response.