There’s been a spate of adoptions in a Karnataka zoo in the recent past. The zoo is in Gadag district and even children are coming forward to adopt an animal. What’s behind this rush to adopt a zoo animal? It is actually an initiative of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka that is turning out to be quite successful by being able to make the public participate enthusiastically in it.
Indian Masterminds interacted with 2010-batch IFS officer and Executive Director of Gadag Zoo, Dipika Bajpei, who is also the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Gadag Division, to know more about the adoption initiative that has gained so much popularity.
PEOPLE ADOPTING ZOO ANIMALS
Recently, the 5-year-old son of a forest officer, Shaurya, adopted a leopard in Gadag zoo for one year. The happy child handed over a cheque of Rs. 50,000 to zoo authorities for the animal. By adopting the leopard, he became the zoo’s ambassador.
This act has inspired many and the Auto Drivers’ Association of Gadag also now wants to adopt a tiger. President of the Association met Gadag Zoo’s Executive Director Dipika Bajpai and expressed his desire to adopt a tiger with the contributions of all auto drivers of the district. There are 800 drivers in their association and all of them are going to contribute as they were greatly inspired by the small child Shaurya’s act. They came to the zoo after seeing him in the news.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INITIATIVE
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Ms Bajpei said, “This is a public participation initiative. People contribute to the development of animals and the zoo, as well as become goodwill ambassadors. At the same time, they also feel good that they are contributing to the animals’ care. If someone adopts an animal with more than Rs. 1000, we also put their name plate in front of the enclosure of the animal.”
Describing the initiative in detail, she said that all the zoos in Karnataka come under a semi government authority, that is the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK). All the zoos of the state work under it and follow its guidelines. ZAK has a centralised adoption policy, where people can adopt zoo animals by paying certain rates fixed by them. These rates are not kept very high, but streamlined, so that most people can adopt animals. The authorities change the rates every year and draw out a new rate chart. If for someone, the adoption rate is high, he can also donate in the name of any animal. That money is then spent on the development of his zoo.
THE ADOPTION PROCESS
The officer also explained the process of adoption. “We have a centralized app of ZAK, people can adopt or donate through that app. After that, soft copy and certificate will be mailed to that person. If the person comes to the zoo and adopts, then we give him a hard copy.”
Many big organisations have also joined this adoption programme, one of them being the Indian Medical Association.
Last year, the zoo got about Rs 5 lakhs from the adoption programme. This year, too, around 40 to 45 people have contacted the zoo authorities expressing their desire to adopt an animal. Many also come forward to adopt on birthdays or anniversaries to make it more memorable. A lady from Germany had adopted an Indian Rock Python on the occasion of her niece’s birthday. “It is a good way to celebrate a special day. If an animal is adopted on the birthday of a child, the child is happy about it, and at the same time, his attachment towards animals also increases,” Ms. Bajpei summed up.
