The Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP), home to about 350 animals and birds, has initiated a unique concept of adoption of animals, first of its kind in the North East region.
"A total of 121 animals and birds have been acquisitioned by the Zoo through public donation from January 2013, increasing the total number of animals and birds to 350," state's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, M Lokeswara Rao, said here today.
Nonetheless, he said with increase of species, the Zoo was suffering from resource crunch for feeding and maintenance of animals, he added.
He said that in order to overcome resource crunch and to involve people with animals and the Zoo, the Forest Department has initiated a unique adoption of animals scheme in Nagaland Zoological Park.
This initiative is first of its kind in North Eastern states and is approved by the state government. Wildlife wing of the department has made the operational modalities of the scheme, he added.
The Adoption Programme allows individuals, groups, corporations, institutes, organisations and families to participate and make a valuable contribution towards the welfare of the animals housed in our zoo, he said.
Rao has appealed any interested individual or group to adopt the animals by paying for the annual feed and maintenance expenditure for the adopted animal for a specific period of time.
