Good collection since last five days

Mysore/Mysuru: An open appeal made by Kannada film actor Darshan Thoogudeepa seeking donations and adoption of animals in nine Zoos across Karnataka has helped Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) to net Rs. 1 crore.

Since last five days, animal-lovers have adopted 3,578 birds and animals in nine Zoos by paying Rs. 1,00,47,900 through Zoos of Karnataka App, said ZAK Chairman L.R. Mahadevaswamy.

Financial crisis has hit all the nine Zoos in the State due to Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020, the subsequent nationwide curfew followed by second wave that hit the gate collection for want of footfall. This has hit feeding of numerous birds and animals and also maintenance of the Zoos. In view of poor state of affairs of Zoos, the ZAK had roped in Darshan Thoogudeepa, an ardent animal lover and a resident of Mysuru, who has grown seeing the growth of the century-old Mysuru Zoo for over last three decades. 

He visited Mysuru Zoo on June 5 to shoot a video requesting people to show their love and affection towards the birds and animals by adopting them. This has fetched over Rs. 1 crore, Mahadevaswamy told media persons here yesterday.

Mysuru Zoo has received the highest number of donations and adoptions of Rs. 51,75,700 followed by Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru which got Rs. 29,83,000.

The donations received in other Zoos are: Shivamogga Zoo – Rs. 7, 24,800, Gadag Zoo – Rs. 2,66,400, Hampi Zoo – Rs. 2,42,200, Belagavi Zoo – Rs. 2,23,300, Davangere Zoo – Rs. 1,94,900, Chitradurga Zoo – Rs. 1,49,300 and Kalaburagi Zoo – Rs. 89,300. The donations are pouring in from all over the State.

As many as 2,023 people in Mysuru and 918 in Bengaluru have either made donations or adopted animals under the Zoo Animal Adoption Scheme.

Mahadevaswamy has thanked Darshan for his support at a time when the Zoos are facing serious revenue crisis for the second successive year due to the pandemic. The closure of all Zoos due to lockdown resulted in zero revenue. All Zoos, including Mysuru Zoo and Bannerghatta Biological Park and smaller ones in Gadag, Belagavi and other places needed about Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh daily for their maintenance. The annual maintenance of the Zoos comes up to Rs. 60 crore, he added.