Among the familiar sights at the 169-year-old Thiruvananthapuram zoo are Dima and Kohima, two Himalayan black bears, usually easy to spot in their enclosure—a green, rocky slope. In summer, however, as the heat builds, the bears retreat to the upper slope where a mist system keeps the ground cool. They like to linger there, moving slowly through the spray. From the visitor path below, they can be hard to spot; only those who keep an eye out for them may catch a glimpse of the two dark shapes resting beneath the mist as the midday heat settles over the enclosure.

Spread across 39 acres, the city zoo houses 92 species. As the afternoon sun intensifies, a quiet stillness steals across the premises, with the animals retreating into patches of shade and conserving energy during the day, even as brief evening showers bring some relief.