They may not be Dhoni, Zaheer Khan or Priyanka Chopra , but for the animals of Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal, each of their benefactors is a celebrity. A unique scheme launched by the park has witnessed thirty three wild life lovers adopting animals and ensuring they are well looked after at the park. After the rise in celebrity adoption of animals the novel scheme has succeeded in creating awareness among public and inspiring many to do a good deed or two for the animals.
The Guardianship scheme was launched in January 2009 at the park. Under the scheme, animals like crocodile, python, Bear, Lion, panther, and tiger can be adopted among other animals. One could adopt animals by bearing the food expenses and upkeep of the animal on a monthly, half yearly or yearly basis. As an added incentive, the name of persons or organisations who adopted the animal is displayed at the entrance gates of Van Vihar during their adoption period. Also the name of the contributor is displayed in front of the enclosure of the animal adopted.
The Animal lovers in Action
Abhinita Das Gupta and a few others from Madhya Pradesh were the first ones to adopt when the scheme was launched although, her efforts were not publicised in the same fashion as celebs who have found a new way to be in the news through these adoptions.
Abhinita on adopting a python said, “While studying law, when I got my first salary from the intern works, I decided to adopt a python. I had adopted it for a month. I could not do it for a second month as someone else had already adopted it.”
She said the python had become her friend and she would visit Van Vihar often to meet him.
Gulrej Ahmed adopted a tigress ‘Era’ in January 2009 and developed strong relationship with the animal. He confessed that while on a visit to Van Vihar, he saw ‘Era’ and adopted her, though it died later. The distressed Ahmad would visit the cage even afterwards where the animal was confined.
Special Occasion Adoptions
The present trend is to adopt animals on special occasions like birthday, marriage anniversary or even as a first salary treat. Pushpendra and Sandhya Jain, a couple, have been adopting animals from van vihar for their marriage anniversary celebrations every year for the past three years.
Sandhya said,”That’s part of our celebration. We have adopted a female panther (Katrina), python and bear.”
She also has plans to adopt animals on other occasions like birthdays etc.
An interesting adoption is the one made by Anil Kumar who despite being a resident of Kolhhapur in Maharashtra adopted a crocodile on the day his son was born, February 25, 2009 in Van Vihar as his in-laws lived in Bhopal.
In the words of J.S.Chouhan, Director of Van Vihar National Park, “Since the scheme was launched several people have adopted wildlife animals in Van Vihar. And now as news comes about celebrities doing it, more people would come forward.”
Following are the annual rates of adoption of animals at Van Vihar. A form for adopting animals is available at the director and assistant director’s offices at Van Vihar.
Lion – For adopting a lion, one will have to pay Rs.125,000 annually.
Tiger – Rs.110,000
Leopard – Rs.50,000
Bear – Rs.65,000
Hyena – Rs.30,000
Jackal – Rs.25,000
Alligator – Rs.40,000
Crocodile – Rs.30,000
Python – Rs.6,000
Other snakes – Rs.2,000
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Cricketer Zaheer Khan Adopts a Tiger
Article source: Economic Times
