The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Adoption of animals begins in Nandankanan zoo

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Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008
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Adoption of animals begins in Nandankanan zoo

Staff Reporter

Adopt-an-Animal programme will formally be launched on October 24

No adopter would be allowed to take the animal home
Two students from Cuttack have adopted macaw by paying Rs. 4,000

— Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty.

Star attraction: A calf elephant in a jovial mood brings smiles to the faces of visitors at Nandankanan Zoological Park.

BHUBANESWAR: Adopt-an-Animal, the innovative programme conceptualised by Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP), has finally found its takers. Individuals and organisations have come forward to adopt six animals of the zoo.

Zoo authorities will formally launch the Adopt-an-Animal and introduce adopters to public on October 24.

The programme is designed to support the zoo’s world-class care and services for all inhabitants by providing quality food to meet their nutritional requirements, medical care, equipment, up gradation of the enclosure and enrichments.

No ownership rights

The adopter (Zoo Parent) would pay the amount fixed for each species he or she would like to adopt. No adopter would be allowed to take the animal home. All the adopted animals would remain in the care and custody of the zoo, and no ownership rights would be conferred.

“This programme would help not only in raising funds but also in ensuring participation of individuals, institutions, corporate bodies, NGOs and others, for better management of the zoo,” NZP Director Ajit Patnaik said.

Besides, the adoption of animals would certainly raise the awareness and commitment levels of people to respect, value and conserve the flora and fauna around, he said. Two students Prakriti and Prakriti from Cuttack have adopted macaw (blue and yellow) by paying Rs. 4,000. They will be known as the founder adopters.

Similarly, adopters’ list includes a tax consultant, rotary club and Kalinga Bharati Residential College. A person from West Bengal, Haraprasad Ghosh has paid Rs. 800 to become zoo parent of a lovebird.

Fortunate animals, which would get better care through the adoption money in the first phase, are a king cobra, tortoise, Dove, macaw and lion tailed macaque.

Tax benefit

‘Adopt-an-Animal’ programme would also be open to groups, like corporate bodies, clubs, NGOs and academic institutions. “The adopters would get benefit under Section 80G of Indian Income Tax Act. Nandankanan is the only zoo in the country to get this privilege,” Mr. Patnaik said. NZP has opened 125 species of birds, mammals and reptiles for adoption by fixing a certain amount against each animal. While one has to pay Rs. 1.5 lakh per annum to adopt a Rhinoceros (Indian one horned) for famous Royal Bengal Tiger (white) the amount will be Rs. 1 lakh. Lions, Royal Bengal Tigers, sloth bears, Orang Utan, Zebra Grant, crocodiles, pythons, Mithun and hippopotamus could also be adopted under the programme.

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