Animal adoptions at Nehru Zoo look up

Hyderabad: After a lull, animal adoption programme is looking up. In the year 2017, the total contribution stood at Rs 18.51 lakh but in the 2018-19 period, up to Feb 2019, the contribution has touched Rs 30.32 lakh.

Speaking to The Hans India, N Kshitija, Curator, Nehru Zoological Park (NZP), said, “Individuals, corporate and schools evince interest in animal adoption. Due to unavoidable reasons, we were unable to connect with NRIs during 2017. We have some regular adopters as well.”

Previously, adoptions were mainly for big cats such as tigers, lions, jaguars and elephants, but of the late it is observed that people are coming forward to adopt other animals like monkeys, peafowls, snakes, birds and crocodiles.

Peaking in the last three years, 2016 had the highest contributions of Rs 43,62,500 in which elephant was the most popular among all the animals costing Rs 5,000 for a week. The lion safari, leopard & jaguar (enclosure), chimpanzee-pair, giraffe, ostrich pair and parrot pair were chosen by people, which cost them Rs 5,25,000 for three months.

The year 2019 has seen diverse adoptions like squirrel monkey and common langur costing Rs 12,500 each for half-yearly period.

Due to increase in adoptions of new and different animals in 2018, the contributions went up. Different birds topped the list like Java Sparrow whose adoption cost is Rs 20,000 for a year and Macaw whose caring costs Rs 15,000 half-yearly. Apart from adoptions, the zoo also received several donations for feeding of the animals.

The adoption scheme started in NZP 2002.Under the scheme, individuals, institutions and corporates are free to adopt animals in the zoo by paying the amount fixed by the zoo authorities for upkeep and maintenance of animals in the zoo for a period of one year.

There are various exhibits which stand out at the park: Primate Park, Carnivore Plaza, Lion Junction, Bears Bay, Deer Land, Parrot World, Reptile Row, Nocturnal Animal House and Elephant Odyssey.