At Nandankanan Zoo, adopt an animal and get tax rebate

Animal lovers in Orissa have reason to rejoice, as the Nandankanan Zoo authorities are all set to launch a novel scheme that will ensure a tax rebate on adoption of an animal by the income tax department.

By Sarada Lahangir

Bhubaneshwar, Dec 3 : Animal lovers in Orissa have reason to rejoice, as the Nandankanan Zoo authorities are all set to launch a novel scheme that will ensure a tax rebate on adoption of an animal by the income tax department.

The scheme is being made possible in collaboration with the State's income tax department to bring individuals closer to birds and animals apart from bringing transparency in the administrative activities.

"The basic objective is to bring people closer to the captive animals and birds......one is that of course it generates some earnings which give you an option and space for better management. At the same time, it gives a kind of insight on how the animals are reared," said Ajit Kumar Patnaik, Director, Nandankanan Zoo.

Though the novel scheme is a first of its kind in Orissa, the credit for initiating the novel scheme goes to the authorities at Mysore and Lucknow zoos where even schoolchildren are encouraged to adopt animals.

The scheme, which has motivated many individuals, will commence with the new financial year starting April 1, 2008.

"I am very happy and excited about the scheme. Generally, it is the government that spends and contributes to such causes. It's high time even citizens come forward for such noble causes," said Bhupender, a visitor at the Nandankanan Zoo.

The interested individuals are required to fill up an application form and pay for an annual maintenance on which one can claim the tax rebates.

Names of the people adopting the animals would be displayed on enclosures of the adopted animals.

Nandankanan Zoo authorities are the waiting State government's approval for starting the scheme.

Currently, the State government spends nine million rupees (0.22 million dollars) on feeding the animals while around Rs. 3 million (0.57 million dollars) are spent on the maintenance of the Nandankanan Zoo.

Nandankanan Zoo, 25 kilometres from Bhubaneshwar, lies in the splendid environs of the Chandaka forest, along the rippling waters of the Kanjia Lake. It also contains a Botanical Garden and part of it has been declared a sanctuary.

Famed for its white tiger population, Nandankanan, or the 'Garden of Gods', has become a hot family favourite, with visitors getting an excellent opportunity to enjoy seeing these regal animals in their natural glory.

Over 67 kinds of mammals, 18 varieties of reptiles and 81 species of birds co-exist in the deeply forested boundaries.

The zoo enjoys an excellent reputation internationally, for successfully breeding black panthers, Gharial, crocodiles and white tigers in captivity.

ANI