The craze for animal adoption that once hooked up every individual attention is on a rapid decline. According to an official of Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park Zoo, not a single animal from the zoo here was adopted in 2015 while in 2016, just one male tiger ‘Mallick’ was adopted by a nationalised bank under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity.
Though it hardly affects the management of any zoo owned and maintained by the concerned Government, but yet if an adoption process is continuous, it helps the zoo management to encourage public and link them to various activities taken up by the zoo that further aids in conservation, claimed a zoo official.
“Bollywood actress, Priyanka Chopra who first adopted a tigress, Durga and later on adopted a lioness Sundari. Till 2012, she was giving a cheque to the zoo authority for its preservation and well-being but discontinued the aid later on without citing any valid reason. Though the senior officials of zoo have approached the actress but we never received any response from her side,” said Dr Ajay Kumar, Veterinary Doctor, Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park Zoo.
Earlier, several renowned corporate firms and Public Sector Units (PSUs) were also found fervent when the concept of adoption of any zoo animals at Birsa Zoo was initiated way back in 2011. An eminent Metallurgical Consultant of MECON, few nationalised banks were among the key acquaintances, who had adopted different animals and were paying whopping prize for animals prolongation.
“In 2016, Bank of India, personal banking division, adopted a tiger. At this time, only Central Coal limited (CCl) has shown concern regarding the adoption process. CCl CMD Gopal Singh visited the zoo a few months back. However, the zoo officials have not received any formal proposal from the coal company till now,” said Dr Kumar.
Kumar, who is associated with the Zoo for over a decade now, has witnessed the changing trend in adoption of animals from zoo closely. The adoption process that involves feeding expenditure, including vaccination of animals differs from animal to animal and at times requires support.
“Celebrity comes for promotion. Though adoption of any kind of forest creature by any celebrity motivates public to come ahead and join the league but if people think that the maintenance of animal here in zoo is being done from the celebrity money, it is mere a wrong notion,” added the Veterinary doctor.
Kumar further added that in spite of the details being furnished on the official website, the adoption of animals is majorly high during the Wild life Conservation Week celebrated in the month of October as major promotional activities, events are planned, organised during this peak time.