Rotary Club of Chennai Velachery, as part of its endeavour to protect wildlife, has adopted a couple of animals and birds at Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur.
Club president Prabha Padmanabhan and other officer-bearers handed over a cheque for Rs. 20,365 to the zoo director, K.S.S.V.P. Reddy, on Friday.
The money is towards meeting the expenses of maintaining a lion-tailed macaque, porcupine and parakeets for one year.
Ms. Padmanabhan said that this was the first time the club engaged in such an activity and they would encourage others to contribute towards a similar cause.
‘Renewed enthusiasm’
The Vandalur Zoo authorities were able to generate nearly Rs. 8.81 lakh during this financial year (2016-17) through the animal adoption programme.
The officials said there was renewed enthusiasm about the programme since its inception in 2009. They said the amount would be spent only to feed the animals.
The zoo authorities have a fixed amount for adopting different animals. They have worked out the daily feed expenses for each animal.
The animal adoption programme is to create awareness among residents and to develop compassion and bonding between human beings and wildlife, the officials said.
A large number of people, especially schoolchildren, come forward to adopt animals and birds at the Vandalur Zoo.
Many companies, including public sector undertakings, also contribute regularly towards feeding animals as part of their corporate social responsibility activities, zoo authorities say.