By Jaideep Sarin, IANS,
Chandigarh : Chirpy birds of all hues and sizes, swift-running deer and even ferocious animals like tigers that people generally fear are up for adoption in Haryana – but can be viewed only from a distance at zoos.
The scheme has a two-fold intention: to improve the maintenance and facilities for birds and animals in Haryana’s zoos and deer parks and serve as an educational platform for schoolchildren and the public at large about the habits and habitat of the winged and four-legged creatures.
“The Haryana government has decided to start a noble scheme for the adoption of animals and birds by the general public in the zoos and the deer parks of the state with immediate effect,” Haryana’s Minister for Wildlife and Forests Ajay Singh Yadav told IANS.
Initially, the people will be able to adopt, after making a contribution, birds and animals at the state’s three mini zoos at Pipli (Kurukshetra), Rohtak and Bhiwani and the Deer Park near Dhansu village in Hisar.
“All the mini zoos and the Deer Park have wild animals and birds to educate the public, particularly schoolchildren and farmers, about the habits and habitat of wildlife. Anyone who has affection for wild animals and wants to contribute towards the noble cause of protecting and conserving wildlife can adopt the animals or birds,” Parvez Ahmed, Haryana’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said.
The extent of the contribution is being worked out as this would vary depending on the birds or animals being adopted.
Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary (Forests) Krishna Mohan said: “I hope this scheme will generate fascination, concern and love for wild animals and birds among the masses. This step by animal lovers will help in a big way in wildlife conservation.”
The Pipli mini zoo is located on the busy Ambala-Delhi stretch of National Highway-1, earlier called the Grand Trunk Road, in the vicinity of Kurukshetra town, 100 km from here.
“The zoo was established in 1982 and is spread over an area of 27 acres. It houses a tiger, a baboon, a bonnet monkey, a spotted deer and a hog deer, two common langoors, two barking deers, two silver pheasants, four guinea fowls, 10 black bucks and 55 fantail pigeons,” Ahmed said.
Located in the heart of the city, the Rohtak mini zoo was established in 1986 and is spread over an area of 44 acres. It houses a jackal and a guinea fowl, two tigers, two panthers, two common langoors, two rosy pelicans, two silver pheasants, three love birds, three turkeys, four black bucks, four sambhars, five crocodiles, five barn owls, six Java sparrows, seven parakeets, 18 Japanese quails and 30 budgerigars.
The Bhiwani mini zoo was established in 1982 and is spread over seven acres. It houses a silver pheasant, two black bucks, two chinkaras, two red jungle fowls, two gharials, three tigers, four sambhars, four barn owls, four hippopotamuses, four desert foxes,
nine spotted deer, 18 sparrows, 20 love birds, 24 crocodiles and 160 budgerigars.
The Hisar Deer Park is located near Dhansu village and was established in 1970 on an area of 42 acres. It houses one blue bull, four black bucks, six sambhars and 19 spotted deer.
All the animals and birds are up for adoption at these places.
Haryana’s Chief Wildlife Warden R.K. Sapra said that the animals and birds can be adopted on ceremonial occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
“This will prove to be a unique gift from the people towards wildlife conservation and propagation. The animal adoption scheme will certainly help in running conservation projects which will involve captive breeding programmes, especially for endangered species of animals and birds in various zoos,” Sapra said.
(Jaideep Sarin can be contacted at [email protected])