Must See! Lucknow Zoo's 43 Adoptions by Animal Lovers!

Lucknow Zoo: Rock Pythons, Crocodiles, Deer Among 43 Adopted by Animal Lovers

Citizens have adopted animals for six months to a year. Their funding will help with feeding, health, and upkeep of the animals.

Forty-three animals at the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden have been adopted by animal lovers, schools, and businesses for 2023-24.

Citizens have adopted animals for six months to a year. Their funding will help with feeding, health, and upkeep of the animals.

Lucknowites are spending between ₹3000 and ₹79,000 to adopt these animals. Some have adopted one animal, while others have taken financial responsibility for different species.

“People are more aware of nature and wildlife, shown by the number of adoptions we see today,” said Aditi Sharma, director of Lucknow Zoo.

“Earlier, there were fewer than 15 adoptions, and cheaper animals were chosen more often. Now, people are interested in sponsoring large carnivores and adopting more than one animal,” she said.

Lucknow Public College, La Martiniere Girls, Lion’s Club, and St. France’s College have adopted 13 animals, spending ₹79,800, ₹26,700, ₹11,100, and ₹22,000 respectively.

Besides institutions, bureaucrats and forest officials have also adopted animals. An IPS officer adopted an owl, a crocodile, and a turtle, spending Rs. 29,500. A resident of Vrindavan Colony adopted a langur, two lovebirds, a white dove, and a budgerigar.

Rock pythons, white peacocks, Hang deer, swamp deer, leopards, and giraffes have also been adopted in the last three years. “Many companies are adopting animals at the Lucknow Zoo as part of their CSR,” said Sharma.

Initiative to Involve Students

Lucknow Zoo will soon start an initiative where college students will donate Re.1 per month for a zoo animal. “We want to raise awareness among students so that compassion and interest in wildlife continue in future generations,” said Zoo director Aditi Sharma. The date for the start of this initiative is still to be determined but will begin soon after the elections.