COVID-19: Revenue-hit Bengaluru zoo's appeal; Adopt, name animals & donate
Bengaluru, Jun 7: Faced with a financial crunch due to dip in footfall owing to COVID-triggered lockdown, Bengaluru zoo is reaching out to people to adopt and name animals and offer donations to raise resources.
The zoo -- Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) -- has four different units -- Zoo, Safari, Butterfly Park and Rescue Centre within an area of 731.88 hectares.
BBP is a self-sustained organisation run only by gate revenue; it has also adopted a few mini zoos of Karnataka.
"COVID-19 pandemic has played a great disaster on the zoo where the footfall has come down drastically, which has impacted revenue", said Chief Conservator of Forests, Bengaluru, and Incharge Executive Director of BBP, R Gokul.
In spite of this, the zoo was taking care of 2,388 animals belonging to 102 different species, he said.
"So we request citizens and organisations to adopt animals to contribute towards their partial cost of feed and veterinary care", Gokul said.
BBP is also providing an opportunity to name young animals.
Some of the recently-born ones available for adoption and naming are: Lioness Sania's one male and three female cubs, Hippopotamus Dashya's male calf, Spectacled Langur Reshmi's female infant, Hanuman Langur Adithi's infant and Grey Wolf Akira's two male pups.
Citizens can also contribute towards one day feeding cost of some of the zoo residents, Gokul said.
Daily feeding cost of an Asian Elephant, for example, works out to Rs 3,000 a day and the zoo has 25 of them.
There is a provision for income tax rebate under 80G for animal adoption/donation, it was noted.
The BBP had also launched an animal adoption programme during the COVID-19-induced lockdown last year.
"As many as 260 animals were adopted by 213 people in financial year 2020-21 and a sum of Rs 34,94,750 has been raised through this initiative", a BBP official told PTI.
ಶ್ರೀ ದರ್ಶನ್ ತೂಗುದೀಪರವರು ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಮೃಗಾಲಯಗಳ ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳನ್ನು ದತ್ತು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಮತ್ತು ದೇಣಿಗೆ ಮೂಲಕ ಸಹಕರಿಸಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಮನವಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅವರಿಗೆ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು. @dasadarshan @aranya_kfd @CMofKarnataka @ArvindLBJP @CZA_Delhi @ani_digital @Mysore_Zoo @PIBBengaluru @PTI_News @KarnatakaWorld pic.twitter.com/6k2hk9RMag
— Zoos of Karnataka (@ZKarnataka) June 5, 2021
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Lungi Ngidi fit to play against CSK
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Capitals bowling coach Munaf Patel on Monday said Lungi Ngidi is set to return to action after recovering from the head injury he suffered in a home game against Punjab Kings on April 25.
Ngidi was stretchered off the field and rushed to a hospital after falling on his head while attempting a catch. The injury led to the South African pacer missing two games.
"Everyone is fit. Lungi is fit. He didn't play two games because of the criterion of six days' rest," said Munaf ahead of the game against Chennai Super Kings.
The bowling attack will be bolstered with the return of Ngidi. Mitchell Starc has also joined the team and made an instant impact in his first appearance of the season against Rajasthan Royals.
Against Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals were not able to defend 264 conceding a record run chase.
Starc's presence is bound to make a difference, said Munaf.
"When there is a wicket-taking bowler in the PowerPlay, the whole scenario changes. 220 or 230 is being chased because you are not able to take wickets in the PowerPlay.
"When the main bowler is there and takes a few wickets in the PowerPlay, it makes a big difference. Bowling in partnerships was missing, but that has been added now," said Munaf.
On David Miller missing out from the playing eleven in the last game, Munaf added: "You can only fit in four foreigners in the XI. Sahil was injured, so we needed an opener and we thought of giving Pathum another chance. We had to play two overseas fast bowlers. So only one between Pathum and Miller could play. We went with Pathum because an opener was required."
