Chandigarh: Animal adoption scheme fails to live up to expectations

While the animal adoption scheme of the Chhatbir Zoological Park was initiated five years ago with an aim to encourage citizens to take care of wild animals, it appears that only a small section of animals have benefited from it.

While the animal adoption scheme of the Chhatbir Zoological Park was initiated five years ago with an aim to encourage citizens to take care of wild animals, it appears that only a small section of animals have benefited from it.

Since-2010-more-than-150-deer-and-a-number-of-birds-have-been-adopted-from-the-zoo-HT-Photo

According to zoo field director Manish Kumar, even though the number of adoptions were on the rise, still a lot was left to be desired. “We are looking for big institutes and companies to come forward for mass adoptions. Individuals and families generally prefer selected animals like the deer or birds for adoption,”Kumar said.

Since 2010, more than 150 deer and a number of birds have been adopted from the zoo. A deer was usually adopted on an astrologer’s advice as it is believed to ward off the bad influence of certain planets while birds were chosen because they cost less.

HOW TO ADOPT

Animals can be adopted for periods ranging from a month to a year. The website pbforests. gov.in has a link to animal adoption where information on the animals available for adoption and their adoption fee is available. The adoption fee is linked to the cost of feeding the animal.

AFTER ADOPTION

The adopter’s name would be mentioned on a board in the zoo and if an animal has been adopted for a year, then the adopters name would be on display at the zoo’s entry gate.