Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Jan 7 (IANS) Haryana Forest Minister Ajay Singh Yadav Friday adopted a black buck under an innovative state government scheme that covers animals and birds in zoos and parks.Yadav handed over a cheque for Rs.22,500 to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Parvez Ahmed towards the annual cost of feeding the black buck.

The black buck, a protected species under the Wildlife Act, is at present housed at the Pipli Zoo in Kurukshetra district, 100 km from here.

The new scheme allows people to adopt animals and birds in Haryana’s three mini-zoos in Pipli, Bhiwani and Rohtak and one deer park near Hisar. People can adopt an animal or bird of choice and opt to provide for its feed on a daily, monthly or annual basis.

Giving details of the charges fixed for the adoption of various animals and birds, Yadav said one would have to pay Rs.360,000 annually or Rs.30,000 per month for adopting a tiger.

For a black buck, chittal, sambhar or chinkara, the charges will be Rs.22,500 a year or Rs.2,000 per month. For the Indian fox, the maintenance cost is Rs.52,000 a year or Rs.4,500 per month.

For tiny love-birds, the charges will be Rs.600 per year or Rs.50 per month.

“One can adopt a maximum of 10 birds. For the young ones of these animals such as calves, cubs, chicks and fawns etc., the charges would be half the amount,” the minister said.

Yadav said the person would get a certificate of adoption and his name would be suitably displayed on a board at the entry gate of the zoo. The adopter would be allowed free entry pass for the entire family (up to five people) to visit the zoo 12 times in a year.

Yadav said he was told during his recent visit to Karnataka that most celebrities had adopted animals. This enabled the state to bring them up and protect them like children.

“This inspired me to replicate the scheme in Haryana. Animals and birds could be adopted on ceremonial occasion like birthdays and anniversaries too,” he said.

“This step would prove to be a unique gift of the mankind towards wildlife conservation and propagation. I appeal to the affluent people and celebrities to come forward in a big way and adopt animals and birds in the three zoos of the state,” Yadav said.