The Lahore Zoo launched a new animal adoption scheme to engage the public in wildlife conservation. A private school has already participated by adopting a male hippopotamus named Gabo.
Adopters can choose to sponsor animals for periods of one month, three months, six months, or one year, according to Deputy Director Shahzaib Khurshid. Participants receive educational materials and certificates, and their names may be displayed on the animal enclosures.
While adopters can visit the animals, learn about their diets and health, and offer care suggestions, they are prohibited from taking the animals home. Veterinary Officer Dr Muhammad Azhar stated that zoo staff remain responsible for the feeding, health, and general care of all animals.
The zoo administration set the annual adoption fee for lions, tigers, and other big cats at Rs1 million. Actress Reema adopted two fawns, while Babra Sharif sponsored a lion cub named Shainko.
The Mysore Zoo in India generated crores of rupees in a single year through its own adoption scheme, where an elephant costs approximately Rs300,000 and a hippopotamus costs Rs50,000 annually. Altamash Saeed noted that keeping wild animals at home was wrong and illegal.
Additional Chief Wildlife Ranger for Central Punjab Mudassar Hassan said that keeping large cats in homes posed serious risks to public safety and animal welfare.
