Punjab’s captive wildlife espousal programme gets a second lease

Amid lack of resources and castigation of zoological gardens on grounds of neglect and animal cruelty, zoo adoption programmes have remained a popular means of ensuring care for captive animals around the world.

A similar programme was also launched for zoos across Punjab, with the intention of aiding the province’s wildlife research and conservation efforts, but had to be adjourned in the wake of Covid-19. Now that the lockdowns have subsided and public spaces are open for all, animal lovers are once again encouraged to espouse any animal of their liking from Punjab’s menagerie.

“However, this is not literal adoption,” elucidated Lahore Zoo Deputy Director Kiran Saleem. “You can’t take a panther home with you, or any animal for that matter. The adoption programme is purely symbolic, which means that adopters can pay for the care of their adopted animal and in return get to visit their animal, receive routine updates and be part of events held on World Animal Day,” she added.

According to zoo policy, the adoption fee varies from animal to animal, depending on the cost of diet, healthcare and upkeep. For instance, birds at the zoo can be adopted for a yearly fee of Rs3,000, while a deer will cost an adopter Rs50,000 for the same period. Similarly monkeys and leopards are up for adoption for an annual charge of Rs135,000 and Rs475,000 respectively, while lions and tigers remain most expensive category with an adoption fee of Rs600,000 a year.

Speaking in the regard, Saleem however maintained that contrary to popular belief, the initiative is not meant to make money for the zoo, but rather to evoke a greater sense of wildlife conservation and raise awareness among the masses. “Our mission here is to encourage the new generation to care for animals and their habitats. Understandably, it is mostly organisations like schools and colleges, or celebrities including actress Reema, Meera and Babra Sharif who’ve so far stepped up to adopt animals and that has generated traction. But now we have started offering special discounts to children under the age of 11, who express interest in sharing the care for wildlife,” said the zoo director.

Public opinion

According to animal lover and Lahore Zoo patron Salma, she had been toying with the idea of adopting an animal for a long time, but Covid-19 regulations had put her plans on hold. “I was at the zoo today and was absolutely awe-struck by the otter exhibit. Although all animals here are lovely, they [otters] have a special place in my heart. Now that the adoption programme is up and running again, I think I am going to get in talks with the zoo management about the process, and finally adopt an otter for myself,” Salma expressed with a hint of excitement in her breath.

Similarly, Dr Sharon Qaiser, a Pakistani national from the United States, who happened to be visiting the country, said that he was pleasantly surprised to learn that Punjab’s zoos have also started offering adoption programmes like zoological gardens in much of the developed world. I am on holiday, but I’ll see if they [zoo management] can make some arrangements for me to adopt an animal for the period of time that I am in Pakistan,” the animal enthusiast who’s also named his children after a Hebraical reference to the king of the jungle, told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2021.