‘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.

The situation at Sayajibaug zoo, however, is glum as people have adopted only a couple of birds. “The scheme was never given due importance, and proper publicity has not been done to attract the people. The results are evident: only a couple of parrots have been adopted by the people against the payment of Rs 7,000,” said an official at Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) refusing to be named.

VMC Commissioner M K Das also admitted that there has been a lack of effort. “It is true that we have not been successful in popularising the concept due to lack of publicity. The amount generated is also negligible. However, we are planning to make a renewed approach. A meeting of the concerned persons would be called in which prospective people who can adopt animals would also be invited,” he said.