Actor Sivakarthiekyan on Tuesday adopted a white tigress name Anu at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP). He has adopted the animal for a period of six months and will have to spend an amount of close to Rs 2.12 lakh.
He will have the privilege of feeding the animal. He handed over a signed letter on Tuesday to Zoo director S Yuvaraj expressing his desire to adopt Anu.
‘It is the responsibility of every citizen to protect the animals that are facing threats. So the public should come forward to adopt one of the 174 species that are housed in the zoo,’ he said. An official release from the zoo said anyone could adopt animals under the animal adoption programme. ‘Adopting an animal or a bird or a reptile will provide the donor a direct opportunity to participate in the day-to-day affairs of the zoo – cleaning enclosures and feeding the animals,’ the release added.
The ‘Adopt an animal’ programme was launched in 2009. People can adopt animals, birds and reptiles by paying a day’s feeding charges. The amount varies from animal-to-animal. For example, the zoo spends Rs 1,196 per day for a lion or a tiger.
