We recently, in March 2008, adopted a bear cub of the WILDLIFE SOS organisation based in Delhi. THe occassion was my son's birthday and what other way to fulfill it than by donating. THis is an adoption for a year when its nurturing would be taken care of at the Agra Bear Sanctuary.
We had gone for a smaller doanation but their film on dancing bears and their misery was too much to watch. We ended up adopting one little female cub. THey say she is a fiesty one.We have been promised a look and feel of it on our next trip.
Not only that, I was touched by my cousin's gesture of donating to WWF India in remembrance over the death anniversary of his mother.
THey were rewarded with a lovely toy Panda, a T-shirt, bearing the words "Wildlife Enthusiast" and ane year subscription of their magazine which was really smart and green in its outlook. All this cost was a 1000/ Rs.
Othe animal adoption options are the Nandan Kanan Zoo in Orissa, the Mysore Zoo, and the Lucknow Zoo.
I would like to share with you the ignorance I had to face before adopting an animal.
THe Lucknow Zoo does not have a viable mail address at all , so all queries died down in my heart only. THe same was the case with Mysore zooas it too has talked of adoption in newspapers but its hows and wheres are not clear. I ultimately searched the web for whether it was possible for me to adopt an animal in our Zoos.
I got this reply from WWF London :
COMMENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I want to adopt KURIBA, THe elephant at Jim Corbett NAtional Park for $10 a month. I also want to sponsor a similar gift for my cousin.
Must I make a telephone at your UK office or is it possible to make an online transaction ?
Regards, Roopa,
D/99, Sector 36
Noida
India
201301
Telephone: 0091--9810160851
E-mail: roopanin@yahoo.co.in
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feedback e-mail from wwf.org.uk
Dear Roopa,
Thank you for your email.
As you live overseas, you will need to phone us on 0044 (0)1483426333 to adopt the elephant. To pay for this by a monthly direct debit, you will need to have a British bank account. If you do not have one, you can still adopt Kiruba by a one-off payment £30 which be for a years adoption.
I hope this information helps and thank you for you interest of WWF.
Kind regards,
Jen Sanders
Supporter Relations Team
WWF-UK
Panda House, Weyside Park
Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1XR
telephone: +44 (0) 1483 426333 9-5pm, Monday to Friday
website: www.wwf.org.uk
FAQ section: www.wwf.org.uk/sitehelp/faqs/faqlist.asp
WWF - for a living planet
I got a helpful message from near home,
> Dear Subramanya,
> THank you so much for this informaion. I once
> went to the Delhi Zoo and asked its big officer if I
> could adopt an animal there but they did not have any
> such scheme. I will go again soon and find out.
> From Delhi how can I adopt one in Mysore or Nandan
> kanan in Orissa ?I will also try to find about the
> Central Zoo Authority og India .
> You have to visit Delhi to see the condn of beggar
> eles thee. They are dusty and tired to look at.
> Nothing healthy color of black on them like the
> beautiful Keral eles.The WIldlife SOS has recently
> opened a place for injured and retired eles to spend
> the rest of the days of their lives in HAryana
> bordering DElhi.
> Thanks again
> Regards
> Roopa
>
>
>
Dear Ms Roopa,
I saw this mail and replying separately. Adopting an animal is simple.
YOu have to just visit the nearest zoo and fill in a form and pay the fees for it.
Adoption gives you visiting rights and if its a big one your name will be displayed near the enclosure or cage and you can discuss about the well being of the adopted animal with zoo authorities. Sometimes if the animal and that means the adoption fee is high, more than one person or usually a big organization will adopt it. Individuals usually adopt smaller animals or their FAVOURITE
class of animals.
I know that animal adoptions regularly take place at Mysore zoo , Karnataka and I am sure similar schemes are there in many zoos coming under Central Zoo Authority of India.
Best Regards
Subramanya
Dear Roopa,
Nice seeing your mail. I am also a teacher. I teach Political science Mysore University as my profession. I have been involved with care for animals since my childhood. When I look at them, especially their eyes and seeing their plight it touches my heart.
Mysore zoo has adoption schemes and I will find out about it and let you know.
Iif you adopt an animal here I can visit the place on your behalf periodically and give you feedback so that you will feel relaxed and happy to hear about it.
Thanks for the letter and it is always a pleasure to communicate with like minded people who have love and compassion for our dumb animal friends and it is sad that our number is decreasing but we shall always keep our humanitarian spirit up and do what we can.
Best wishes and regards
Subramanya
June 18, 2008
THe latest news on animal adoptions has come from Gujarat.. Adoption of animals is now open In two zoos of Gujarat . I will give you their names.
Jan 18., 2009
The BHopal Zoo now has opened its adoptions for people. Recently a young man has adopted atigeress for three months there as a wedding anniversary gift to his wife for 36000 rupees. ANother girl from Indore adopted apython from there for a month.
By the way the advertisement that the abovementioned WWF UK had put up for animal adoption of Kripa a female ele at Corbett is for a ghost elephant as no such ele existed there as we visited the park in March 2008.
WIldlife SOS is however doing very good work .
