Animal adoption scheme launched at Gorewada

Nagpur: The Gorewada Rescue Centre in city has launched animal adoption scheme to promote wildlife conservation. The scheme involves adoption of three tigers, 14 leopards, sloth bear and birds housed in Gorewada. Even if animals are adopted, ownership will remain with the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), managing the rescue centre.

The rescue centre has recognition from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The CZA guidelines 0f 2013 calls for animal adoption to mobilize financial support for supplementing management of the zoos.

Gorewada divisional manager Nandkishore Kale said a list of animals and birds has been displayed. This list will be revised on quarterly basis if there is change in number of animals and birds.

Kale informed that an adopter may choose one or more animal or birds and he will have to pay full amount in advance. "We will issue certificate of adoption in his name but he will not be able to use this certificate for publicity purposes. The adopter will also not have a say in diet and other requirements of the animals," Kale said.

The zoo has introduced a novel idea to attract people by distributing free safari passes to adopters. The scheme includes one free pass for those who adopt animal or bird for a day. Two free passes will be issued to those who adopt animals for a month and six free passes for to those who adopt animal or birds for a year. Kale informed that passes will be issued for a team of 5 members.

"To make the scheme more attractive, efforts are being made by FDCM to seek exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act," said Kale.

The annual adoption charges for tiger has been kept at Rs 2 lakh, Rs 30,000 monthly and Rs 1,500 daily. Similarly, for leopard it is Rs 1 lakh, Rs 25,000 and Rs 1,500. For sloth bear it will Rs 75,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 1,500.

For birds the charges are a little low. For Bonelli's eagle, annual charges will be Rs 25,000, Rs 5,000 monthly and Rs 1,000 daily. Similar, will be the charges for Eurasian owl, and Reeve's pheasant.

There are three tigers — Sahebrao, Lee and Shivani — at the centre while 14 leopards captured during man-animal conflict have been dumped from Junnar in Ahmednagar, Amravati and Tadoba landscape. The other animals were rescued and brought for treatment at the centre.