NO MORE FRIENDS OF ZOO
http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20110417201104170013134899dd0061e/NO-MORE-FRIENDS-OF-ZOO.html
Launched in 2008, Kankaria zoo’s animal adoption scheme is fizzling out. As many as 57 animals were adopted then as compared to only 24 last year
Hemington James And Ruturaj Jadav
Care to adopt this lion?
Amber’s upkeep would cost around Rs 1 lakh
Sure, Amdavadis love animals. Many have already shown their large-heartedness by opening their purse strings for the upkeep of animals under the Friends of the Zoo scheme launched in 2008 by the Kankaria zoo. But a little tax benefit for their act of kindness wouldn’t hurt either, they say.
While 36 individuals and corporate houses had adopted 57 animals and donated Rs 10.96 lakh in 2008-09, 14 people adopted only 24 animals and donated Rs 4.33 lakh in 2010-11. Zoo Superintendent R K Sahu said: “Initially, we were flooded with enquiries regarding the adoption of animals.
The hype lasted for a while, but later on the number of calls decreased. We also registered a drop in membership renewals. Even now, industrial units and commercial establishments call us up, but they are interested only if they get a tax rebate for the donations.”
Call it poor marketing of the concept or just the change of heart of value-for-money-conscious Amdavadis, neither individuals nor corporate houses are showing interest in the scheme that created quite a buzz three years ago.
The one-year adoption scheme, which can also be extended, aims at reducing the expenses of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on the maintenance of animals and promote wildlife.
Astral Polytechnik Ltd pays Kamala Nehru Zoological Park Rs 32,260 annually for the upkeep of Julie, the leopard
POOR RESPONSE
In 2008-09, 29 birds, 16 reptiles and 12 animals – including two elephants, three leopards, a tiger and a lioness – were adopted by 36 people. The following year, 33 in all were adopted by 25 people who donated Rs 6.14 lakh in maintenance cost to the zoo. In the year 2010-11, only 24 creatures – a peacock, a pigeon, love birds, vultures, a blackbuck, a leopard, a crocodile and an elephant – were adopted by just 14 people. In the first year, a tiger and a lioness were also adopted, but last year they had no takers.
When contacted M S Patel, Deputy Municipal Commissioner told Mirror: “Other cities are replicating our model and have begun roping in sponsors. It is sad that people in our city have stopped taking interest in animal adoption. We have now decided to approach banks and schools to promote the scheme.”
Jani and Company, a legal firm, pays Rs 2,58,460 for the maintenance of Rupa (L), One tiger was adopted in 2008-09 by a builder. But he opted out of the scheme the next year (R)
PUBLICITY NEEDED
Animal lover Madhu Menon, however, blames the lack of publicity of the scheme for the lukewarm response from people.
“While it is good that AMC came up with the scheme, more needs to be done to promote it. We did not hear anything about the Friends of the Zoo scheme after its launch in 2008. If people responded positively during the economic slowdown, I don’t see why they shouldn’t do so now.”
When it was launched, AMC authorities even sent letters to leading cricket stars, superstars like Amitabh Bachchan and socialites in the city like Geet Sethi, requesting them to adopt animals.
Managing Director of Safal Construction Pvt. Ltd Rajesh B Brahmbhatt has been paying for the upkeep of two leopards since the launch of the scheme. “We have not adopted the animals for publicity sake. We genuinely feel that it is our social responsibility to do so. We believe that if we do it, many will be encouraged to participate in the scheme.”
No one has yet adopted the hippopotamuses. The bear was adopted for a year in 2008 by Jay and Madhav Murthy who paid Rs 23,260 for the upkeep of the animal
IT’S AMC’s JOB
However, an animal lover who chose not to renew his annual membership, said on condition of anonymity: “Initially, the thought of adopting an animal excited me a lot. But now I feel that why should I do it? Isn’t it the duty of the corporation to take care of the animals. They are minting so much money, how come they need our help to look after the zoo animals?”
What is a Friend of the Zoo?
A Friend of the Zoo - an individual or an institution - will have to pay an annual maintenance cost for the animal adopted. The cost depends on the animal chosen. The one-year adoption period can be extended through renewal. The adoption fee will cover the animal’s food, routine medicines, cleanliness and maintenance of its enclosure. A Friend of the Zoo can pay for emergency medical treatment, sponsor medical equipment, insure the animal and cultivate green patches on the zoo premises if he or she wishes.
The names of people who have adopted an animal will be displayed outside the animals’ enclosures on a name plate. The adopters will also be awarded certificates of their contribution and their names listed in the zoo’s annual report. They will be given four free entry passes twice a year, so that they can inspect the facilities given to their wards. They will also be invited to educational programmes at the zoo. However, adopters will not be allowed inside enclosures and cannot claim ownership of the animal
Launched in 2008, Kankaria zoo’s animal adoption scheme is fizzling out. As many as 57 animals were adopted then as compared to only 24 last year
Hemington James And Ruturaj Jadav
Care to adopt this lion?
Amber’s upkeep would cost around Rs 1 lakh
Sure, Amdavadis love animals. Many have already shown their large-heartedness by opening their purse strings for the upkeep of animals under the Friends of the Zoo scheme launched in 2008 by the Kankaria zoo. But a little tax benefit for their act of kindness wouldn’t hurt either, they say.
While 36 individuals and corporate houses had adopted 57 animals and donated Rs 10.96 lakh in 2008-09, 14 people adopted only 24 animals and donated Rs 4.33 lakh in 2010-11. Zoo Superintendent R K Sahu said: “Initially, we were flooded with enquiries regarding the adoption of animals.
The hype lasted for a while, but later on the number of calls decreased. We also registered a drop in membership renewals. Even now, industrial units and commercial establishments call us up, but they are interested only if they get a tax rebate for the donations.”
Call it poor marketing of the concept or just the change of heart of value-for-money-conscious Amdavadis, neither individuals nor corporate houses are showing interest in the scheme that created quite a buzz three years ago.
The one-year adoption scheme, which can also be extended, aims at reducing the expenses of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on the maintenance of animals and promote wildlife.
Astral Polytechnik Ltd pays Kamala Nehru Zoological Park Rs 32,260 annually for the upkeep of Julie, the leopard
POOR RESPONSE
In 2008-09, 29 birds, 16 reptiles and 12 animals – including two elephants, three leopards, a tiger and a lioness – were adopted by 36 people. The following year, 33 in all were adopted by 25 people who donated Rs 6.14 lakh in maintenance cost to the zoo. In the year 2010-11, only 24 creatures – a peacock, a pigeon, love birds, vultures, a blackbuck, a leopard, a crocodile and an elephant – were adopted by just 14 people. In the first year, a tiger and a lioness were also adopted, but last year they had no takers.
When contacted M S Patel, Deputy Municipal Commissioner told Mirror: “Other cities are replicating our model and have begun roping in sponsors. It is sad that people in our city have stopped taking interest in animal adoption. We have now decided to approach banks and schools to promote the scheme.”
Jani and Company, a legal firm, pays Rs 2,58,460 for the maintenance of Rupa (L), One tiger was adopted in 2008-09 by a builder. But he opted out of the scheme the next year (R)
PUBLICITY NEEDED
Animal lover Madhu Menon, however, blames the lack of publicity of the scheme for the lukewarm response from people.
“While it is good that AMC came up with the scheme, more needs to be done to promote it. We did not hear anything about the Friends of the Zoo scheme after its launch in 2008. If people responded positively during the economic slowdown, I don’t see why they shouldn’t do so now.”
When it was launched, AMC authorities even sent letters to leading cricket stars, superstars like Amitabh Bachchan and socialites in the city like Geet Sethi, requesting them to adopt animals.
Managing Director of Safal Construction Pvt. Ltd Rajesh B Brahmbhatt has been paying for the upkeep of two leopards since the launch of the scheme. “We have not adopted the animals for publicity sake. We genuinely feel that it is our social responsibility to do so. We believe that if we do it, many will be encouraged to participate in the scheme.”
No one has yet adopted the hippopotamuses. The bear was adopted for a year in 2008 by Jay and Madhav Murthy who paid Rs 23,260 for the upkeep of the animal
IT’S AMC’s JOB
However, an animal lover who chose not to renew his annual membership, said on condition of anonymity: “Initially, the thought of adopting an animal excited me a lot. But now I feel that why should I do it? Isn’t it the duty of the corporation to take care of the animals. They are minting so much money, how come they need our help to look after the zoo animals?”
What is a Friend of the Zoo?
A Friend of the Zoo - an individual or an institution - will have to pay an annual maintenance cost for the animal adopted. The cost depends on the animal chosen. The one-year adoption period can be extended through renewal. The adoption fee will cover the animal’s food, routine medicines, cleanliness and maintenance of its enclosure. A Friend of the Zoo can pay for emergency medical treatment, sponsor medical equipment, insure the animal and cultivate green patches on the zoo premises if he or she wishes.
The names of people who have adopted an animal will be displayed outside the animals’ enclosures on a name plate. The adopters will also be awarded certificates of their contribution and their names listed in the zoo’s annual report. They will be given four free entry passes twice a year, so that they can inspect the facilities given to their wards. They will also be invited to educational programmes at the zoo. However, adopters will not be allowed inside enclosures and cannot claim ownership of the animal
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