SGNP animals up for adoption
Simit Bhagat, TNN, Mar 14, 2010, 02.38am ISTMUMBAI: Have you ever thought of working on conserving the Indian wildlife but didn’t know where to start? Well, here’s your chance to take care of some of the country’s rare and endangered species.
Forest officials at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) will soon put up the animals in the park for adoption by individuals and corporates. The scheme is being introduced for a period of one year.
SGNP director and conservator of forest P N Munde said: “We will put up 46 animals in captivity for adoption. The idea is to reduce the financial burden of maintenance of the animals on the forest department.’’
Among the animals that can be adopted are four tigers, two white tigers, three lions, 24 leopards including two cubs, six rusty spotted cats, two nilgais, four spotted deer and a barking deer. Every year, the forest department spends more than Rs 50 lakh on the upkeep of cages and maintenance of the animals.
Rising cost of maintenance is forcing the Sanjay Gandhi National Park to put up its animals in captivity for adoption. The most expensive animal in the park is, understandably, turning out to be the white tiger. They can be adopted for Rs 3.15 lakh annually. Lion can be adopted for Rs 2.5 lakh, a leopard for Rs 1.15 lakh and the cheapest would be the barking deer at the cost of Rs 10,000 per annum.
Forest officials at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) will soon put up the animals in the park for adoption by individuals and corporates. The scheme is being introduced for a period of one year.
SGNP director and conservator of forest P N Munde said: “We will put up 46 animals in captivity for adoption. The idea is to reduce the financial burden of maintenance of the animals on the forest department.’’
Among the animals that can be adopted are four tigers, two white tigers, three lions, 24 leopards including two cubs, six rusty spotted cats, two nilgais, four spotted deer and a barking deer. Every year, the forest department spends more than Rs 50 lakh on the upkeep of cages and maintenance of the animals.
Rising cost of maintenance is forcing the Sanjay Gandhi National Park to put up its animals in captivity for adoption. The most expensive animal in the park is, understandably, turning out to be the white tiger. They can be adopted for Rs 3.15 lakh annually. Lion can be adopted for Rs 2.5 lakh, a leopard for Rs 1.15 lakh and the cheapest would be the barking deer at the cost of Rs 10,000 per annum.
SGNP officials said the figures have been calculated after looking at individual needs of every animal. The adoption fund would take care of the animals’ food, maintenance of their enclosures as well as the medical treatment needed over the year.
Deepak Sawant, superintendent of the Lion & Tiger Safari at SGNP, said: “The person who adopts an animal will be allowed to enter the park free of cost and visit the animal once a week for one year. Also, the name of the person, who has adopted the animal, will be put up on the cage as a token of appreciation.’’
Deepak Sawant, superintendent of the Lion & Tiger Safari at SGNP, said: “The person who adopts an animal will be allowed to enter the park free of cost and visit the animal once a week for one year. Also, the name of the person, who has adopted the animal, will be put up on the cage as a token of appreciation.’’
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