Back when we were kids, a trip to the zoo was like a field day to quench our curious little minds.
As we grew up, zoo trips brought many of us to realise the deplorable conditions that these animals were often left in.
Ever felt like making the lives better for these animals but didn’t know how to?
With plans of launching an animal adoption scheme, the National Zoological Park in New Delhi is paving the way for animal lovers to go an extra mile for these animals.
The initiative was motioned after a suggestion made by Environment Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan a couple of weeks back.
“We are exploring various options to start an animal adoption scheme at the Delhi Zoo. We would launch the scheme once we finalise the modalities,” Renu Singh, director of the National Zoological Park, told HT.
So the scheme will allow you to choose an animal and ‘adopt’ it.
By adopting the animal, you take care of the funds that will be used by the zoo authorities to buy food and medicines for them, and to meet general maintenance expenditures.
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Some of the added perks will include having your name displayed on the enclosure, an adoption certificate as well as free entry to the zoo for an entire year. And the best part is, you get to choose a name for your animal and even celebrate their birthday in the zoo premises.
Reportedly, you can can also be exempted from Income Tax under section 80 (G) of the Income-Tax Act in some special cases.
Though the initiative plans on covering all the animals in the zoo, the authorities are vouching for large animals like tigers, lions and elephants in the scheme, as they require maximum expenditure.
Many such initiatives have already been put to practice by zoos like Lucknow Zoo, Patna Zoo, Alipore Zoo in Kolkata, Mysore Zoo and Nandankanan in Odisha few years back.
“But there is a difference between the Delhi zoo and other zoos in the country. While the Delhi Zoo is the only zoo in the country directly run by the Union ministry, other zoos are managed by their respective state governments. Most of the other zoos that have launched adoption schemes are registered societies and can accept money in the adoption scheme. We can’t,” said Renu.
The zoo authorities in Delhi are currently doing their research on the various adoption schemes launched by zoos in the country as well as the ones abroad, in order to come up with a palpable scheme.
“It won’t be like other zoos as we can’t accept money directly. For that we have to register the zoo as a society, which would be a long and cumbersome process. So we are planning it differently and that is why we are exploring options,” she added.
The Delhi Zoo is currently planning a birthday bash for its animals. A white tiger named Vijay will be the first amid the pack that will have its first birthday party celebrated on July 21.
You can write to the National Zoological Park at nzpnewdelhi@gmail.com or call them on (011)24359825 or (011)24358500.