The ferocious lions and the elegant deer are the hot favourites for the adopters under Punjab Government’s Animal Adoption Scheme. launched by the State Forest and Wildlife Department, the people have shown great interest in lions and deer, besides pigeons, tortoise, dove, emu, owls, tiger cubs and sarus crane.
“It has shown interesting results of contrast in preference with maximum people either preferring deer or lion in Chhatbir zoo while participating in the scheme,” said an official spokesperson.
He said that the scheme showed a varied response with most of the people adopting the animals not for long term but for short term — from one month to six months and list of preference ranged from partridge, jaguar, leopard and white peacock.
Spokesperson said that during the last few years, over 65 people have adopted various animals and state was able to collect over `10 lakh from the adopting families that have been spent on formulating strategies for conservation of animals.
By adopting a favourite animal, a person has to contribute towards the feeding of that animal for full one year or month, he said.
“If a person adopts an animal, the name of adopter would be suitably displayed on a board and if a person adopts an animal for full one year, their name would be on displayed at the entry gate of the zoo,” said the spokesperson.
He added that the adopter will be allowed free entry pass for his family or for five persons to visit the zoo four times a year.
“The adopter will also be invited as a special guest during various celebrations and they will be the ex-officio members of the zoo’s development society. The adopter will also get a certificate of adoption,” he said.