The Dr. Shivaram Karanth Biological Park at Pilikula here is looking for more adopters (or donors) for the animals in captivity, according to its Director H.J. Bhandary.
It is because the park has more animals now, as seven species of animals, 12 young ones, have born in captivity in the last three months. On the other hand, the price of meat, mainly required for carnivorous animals, has gone up. Herbivorous ones now require more vegetables, wheat, grass and green fodder, he said.
Lions and Tigers in captivity require 10 kg of meat each everyday. A lioness and a tigress require eight kg meat a day. Their cubs need 4 kg to 5 kg a day. They are kept on fast for one day in a week, he said. Carnivorous animals are given either beef or chicken.
Earlier, beef was priced between Rs. 80 and Rs. 90 a kg. Now it has reached Rs. 110 a kg. Sometimes, it increases to Rs. 150 a kg, according to Mr. Bhandary.
Mr. Bhandary told The Hindu on Sunday that the park required between Rs. 2.5 lakh and Rs. 3 lakh a month for maintaining 400 animals of 80 species. There is no government grant for maintaining them. Funds are received from the Central Zoo Authority for some projects, only when submitted. The park has got only eight donors now. Animals are being taken care of from the entry fee collected and deposits from donors.
“Seven species of animals giving birth to 12 young ones in captivity indicate that the environment in the park is conducive for breeding,” he said.
The Director said that donors would be given the option of naming the cubs they adopt. The adopter's name would be displayed on the animal enclosures. They would be given free entry to the park.
Mr. Bhandary said that following media reports of three lion cubs, a male and two females, were born in the park three months ago, K.G. Shenoy, a businessman from Dubai, donated Rs. 4 lakh for their maintenance. Mr. Shenoy wanted to name the three cubs after three religions, Hindu, Muslim and Christian. Hence they had been named Bharata, Victoria and Sara.
The park is under Pilikula Nisargadhama, which is managed by a registered society. The society has a governing council, consisting of government officials, scientists and other experts. District in-charge Minister is the ex-officio chairman of the governing body.
