Shivarajkumar adopts Asiatic elephant Parvathi at Mysuru Zoo

Mysuru: Sandalwood actor Shivarajkumar has adopted the Asiatic elephant in the Mysore zoo for one year.
The actor adopted Parvathi after paying adoption fees of Rs 75,000 under the animal adoption scheme.
The executive director of the zoo on Thursday thanked the actor for the noble gesture and said it would inspire thousands of corporate, charitable institutions and donors to come forward to adopt animals and birds in large numbers.
Shivarajkumar is not the first Sandalwood star to have adopted a zoo animal. Actors Darshan, Chikkanna and cricketers, including MS Dhoni, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble are among those who have adopted animals here. Political leaders, including chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and KPCC president DK Shivakumar had also adopted animals.
It was yoga guru BKS Iyengar who set the ball rolling after he adopted two tigers at the zoo. After his death, his son Prashant S Iyengar, also a yoga expert, continued the family’s association with the zoo by adopting animals in his father’s memory.