Now adopt a zoo animal in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: With a view to conserve environment and wildlife, Haryana government has come out with a new policy under which the people can adopt animals from zoos in the state at reasonable rates and the employees of the zoo would take care of these animals.

While disclosing the new scheme, spokesman of Haryana wildlife department informed that as environment could be conserved only with the help of people, the state government has launched this unique scheme. Any person may adopt an animal, as a gift to loved ones on their anniversaries or other occasions.

He said that names of all persons adopting animals would be displayed on a board in the zoo and free entry pass would be provided to five members of each such family. The passes would be valid for 12 times in a year. He said that the rates have been decided to adopt animals and the people would have to deposit charges per year which would be Rs 3.60 lakh for tigers, Rs 52,000 for Indian fox, Rs 38,000 for crocodile and alligators, Rs 22,500 for deer, Rs 1.41 lakh for hippopotamus, Rs 50,000 for bear, Rs 1000 each for partridge, red jungle fowl, and cockatiel, Rs 600 each for java sparrow, love bird and budgerigar, Rs 8,500 each for langoor, monkey, baboon and Rs. 22,500 for black buck.

The officials of the state wildlife department further stated that at present, Surender Singh Memorial Mini Zoo Bhiwani has about 268 wild animals including crocodiles, black bucks, sambhars, barn owls, alligators, silver pheasants, tigers, love birds, java sparrows, Indian foxes, deer, cockatiels, black bears, leopards and hippopotamus.