IN THE WILD: A file picture of a lioness at the Bannerghatta National Park near Bangalore. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Bangalore: How many of us can claim to be the "foster parent" of a hippopotamus or a zebra? You can, if you are prepared to shell out Rs. 1.2 lakh and Rs. 60,000 a year for each of these animals and can even monitor their progress through the seasons.

Bannerghatta Biological Park, which launched its "Adopt the Wild" programme for private funding for the upkeep of animals in near natural habitats, is trying to popularise it. The money you contribute will assure a better life for the adopted animals. It will be spent on feeding them, their medical check-up and help the captive breeding programme to enhance wildlife conservation, authorities at the park say.

While the park does receive some funding from the Government, animals have a habit of multiplying and there is also the shelter for rescued animals to be considered. Twenty-two km from Bangalore, this wilderness is acknowledged by the Zoo Authority of India to be a successful breeding ground for several species of endangered animals.

It shelters 80 lions, 10 tigers, elephants and many types of herbivores. The captive breeding programme requires expert veterinary care and diet supplements and cost a lot of money.

The annual cost of adopting a lion is Rs. 1.75 lakh and a tiger is Rs. 1.45 lakh.

An elephant will be costlier at Rs. 2 lakh a year and a marsh crocodile can cost Rs. 7,000. If you prefer something more exotic, you can adopt a King Cobra for Rs. 5,500 a year. Throughout the world, zoos and sections in wildlife parks have become few places where fast dwindling species such as tiger can be bred under natural conditions.

Zoos are encouraged to exchange animals between them rather than import them and then trying to make them adapt to unfamiliar surroundings and climatic conditions.

The Mysore zoo became the first in country when it successfully bred African elephants almost a decade ago.

It was also the first to go for corporate sponsorship for animals kept in enclosures.

According to officials at the park, those adopting an animal will get privileged entry to the park five times a year and their name will be displayed at the respective animal enclosures.

They will be allowed to take photographs to be displayed at home. The park can be contacted on Ph.: 2782540 or 2782300.

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