The concept of ‘Friends of Zoo’ fails to catch up in Vadodara unlike in Ahmedabad and Rajkot

‘Friends of Zoo’ is a concept in which citizens are motivated to lend financial assistance to the zoo and adopt animals there. The Ahmedabad and Rajkot zoo authorities have been successful in promoting this concept, but their counterparts in Vadodara are still struggling to generate awareness about the same.

Ahmedabad zoo authorities have already collected over Rs 10 lakh; Rajkot zoo authorities have collected Rs 33,000. However, the Sayajibaug zoo has been able to collect only Rs 7,000. The reason, according to the zoo officials, is inadequate publicity about this concept.

Ahmedabad authorities said that they have been trying non-stop to bring the public closer to the wild animals. “The fact that we have collected Rs 10.94 lakh speaks for our efforts. Today, we have a group of people who are not just lending financial help but are also emotionally attached to the animals that they have adopted. This is the basic motive of the whole exercise,” said R K Sahu, Superintendent, Ahmedabad zoo.

The concept was mooted in Rajkot in July 2008. “It is not the money which is the main factor behind the Friends of Zoo scheme but it is the effort to bring people closer to the wild animals. We keep on floating different ideas that attract people. Now they are realising the cause behind the efforts and are coming forward to adopt birds and animals,” said M G Maradia, Curator, Rajkot zoo.

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