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My son is a lion, my baby is an orangutan
It’s ‘shower time’ for this elephant at the zoo. Pic by Nilan Maligaspe
Want to adopt a naughty chimp, an adorable baby orangutan or a majestic lion with a flowing golden mane? Then call the National Zoo on a special hotline to add a new member to your family or your firm.
Although you won’t be able to take your adopted pet home, you will have a greater say in their welfare and enjoy several benefits and concessions the Zoo is offering.
National Zoo coordinator S.R. Dullewe said even companies can adopt an animal under the adopt-an-animal programme which has several packages starting from Rs. 50,000 with the duration ranging from one to five years.
“The main objective of the project is to make the people partners in the Zoo’s effort to improve the welfare of the animals,” he said.
He said chimps, lions, elephants, tigers, rhinos, sea lions, baby orangutans and komodo dragons are some of the animals offered for adoption, and companies or individuals could go for Amethyst, Garnet, Ruby or Sapphire packages depending on their budget and commitment to animal welfare.
The ‘foster parents’ will be entitled to several benefits, including the privilege to attend special events at the Zoo, display the company’s name and logo, display photographs, take pictures with the animal.
They will also be given a personalised adoption certificate, a fact sheet of the animal, a free pass, access to the rear entrance of the cage, free video opportunity for four days, a five percent discount at gift shops and 10 percent discount for pony rides and birthday parties.
To adopt an animal, foster parents should select an animal from the Zoo’s list and fill the application form provided by the Zoological gardens. You can call the Zoo’s director on his hotlines 0112712752, 0112712758.
| Want to be a volunteer? In yet another move to improve the welfare of the animals at the National Zoo, authorities are looking for volunteers who are willing to pay and work. A Wildlife Ministry spokesman said animal enthusiasts were wanted for field work from 7.30 to 4.30 pm. They should be over 18 and, if they need to serve in the veterinary section, they should be graduates or undergraduates or at least have some secondary education in animal science. Volunteers can apply through their universities or higher education institutes. If he or she is not a graduate or undergraduate, parents’ permission is needed. Volunteers should also be covered under an insurance policy for his or her safety. Local volunteers have to pay a non-refundable registration fee of Rs. 300.00 in addition to weekly or monthly fieldwork fees. The official said newspaper advertisements calling for volunteers would be published soon. He said certificates of merit would be handed over to the volunteers at the end of the programme.For further information, call hot lines – 094112734542/53 or send an email to zool@slt.lk. |