Poor response in Alipore zoo to animal adoption scheme

Poor response in Alipore zoo to animal adoption scheme

Context

Most organisations and individuals have not renewed contract with the zoo 

What has happened?

Almost four years after the West Bengal government introduced a scheme to adopt animals in the Alipore Zoological Garden, the initiative seems to have lost steam with fewer individuals and companies approaching the authorities for adoption.

Decrease in revenue from the scheme

The animal adoption scheme was announced in 2013 and in 2015-16 the revenue from the initiative increased up to Rs. 31.65 lakh. But in 2017-18, the money from the scheme dropped to Rs. 11.75 lakh 

Lone adoption

Almost Rs. 11 lakh came from a single source, a non-resident Indian. S.U. Rahaman, whose address in the zoo records was mentioned as Sutton, London, had adopted three tigers, two lions and one leopard

Incentives galore

• Besides incentives like celebrating the birthday of the adopted animal inside the zoo, the scheme provides opportunity to use the animal’s photograph for publication in newspapers, magazines, in the letter head and website of individual or the institution.
• Adoption cost of tigers and lions was highest at Rs. 2 lakh per annum. Birds or porcupines could be adopted at Rs. 10,000 for a year.