CHENNAI: Ten-year-old Anu, a
white tigress in Chennai’s Vandalur zoo, became the centre of attraction on Tuesday, after she was adopted by popular film actor
Sivakarthikeyan.
Sivakarthikeyan has signed a letter expressing his wish to adopt Anu for a period of six months. The letter was handed over to the zoo director S Yuvaraj.
The actor has to pay Rs 2.12 lakh to the zoo for the adoption programme.
“It is the responsibility of every citizen to protect the animals that are facing threats. So the public should come forward to adopt one of the 174 species that are housed in the zoo,” he said.
White tigress Anu
An official release from the zoo said anyone could adopt animals under the animal adoption programme. Adopting an animal or a bird or a reptile will provide the donor a direct opportunity to participate in the day-to-day affairs of the zoo – cleaning enclosures and feeding the animals.
The ‘Adopt an animal’ programme was launched in 2009. People can adopt animals, birds and reptiles by paying a day’s feeding charges. The amount varies from animal-to-animal. For example, the zoo spends Rs 1,196 per day for a lion or a tiger whereas its spends only Rs 550 per day for a pair of chimpanzees.