Bannerghatta Biological Park appeals to Bengalureans to sponsor feed of the zoo’s 2,388 residents
BENGALURU:
Come on, Bengalureans! Show us your big heart — Covid or no Covid — and loosen your purse-strings at this crucial juncture when the need of the hour is to feed the animals of Bannerghatta Biological Park!
Nearly 2,388 animals belonging to 102 species are eagerly awaiting a helping hand from Bengalurueans as BBP faces a cash crunch as a result of the current pandemic-related loss of revenues. Bannerghatta Biological Park officials are making this appeal to Bengalureans for the second time in 48 days.
Read Here: Follow your heart, feed Bannerghatta Park animals https://thebengalurulive.com/follow-your-heart-feed-bannerghatta-park-animals/
The BBP has 4 different units — Zoo, Safari, Butterfly Park and Rescue Centre — within an area of 731.88 hectares.
The zoo was hitherto self-sustaining organisation run mostly on gate revenue and had even adopted a few mini-zoos in Karnataka. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has been a disaster for the zoo, with footfalls and revenue falling drastically. In spite of this, BBP continues to look after the 2,388 individual animals to the best of its ability. The zoo has requested citizens and organisations to adopt animals by contributing towards the partial cost of their feed and veterinary care.
Name the babes!
BBP also provides an opportunity to adopt and name young ones. Some of the young ones available for adoption and naming are:
1) Lioness Sania’s 1 male and 3 female cubs born on 3rd April, 2021
2) Zebra Kaveri’s female foal born on 27th September, 2020
3) Hippopotamus Dashya’s male calf born on 27th July, 2020
4) Spectacled Langur Reshmi’s female infant born on 16th March, 2020
5) Hanuman Langur Adithi’s infant born on 22nd February, 2020
6) Grey Wolf Akira’s two male pups born on 3rd February, 2020
One-day feeding costs
Citizens can also contribute towards a one-day feeding cost for some of our zoo residents. The daily feeding cost for some of the animals is as follows:
| Species | Approximate daily feeding cost per animal | Total number of animals | Total feeding cost/day |
| Asian Elephant | 3,000/- | 25 | 75,000/- |
| Royal Bengal Tiger | 1,500/- | 20 | 30,000/- |
| Lion | 1,500/- | 23 | 34,500/- |
| Leopard | 500/- | 42 | 21,000/- |
| Giraffe | 1000/- | 2 | 2,000/- |
| Zebra | 750/- | 4 | 3,000/- |
| Hyena | 500/- | 3 | 1,500/- |
| Wolf | 500/- | 13 | 6,500/- |
| Jackal | 400/- | 11 | 4,400/- |
| Wild Dog | 400/- | 4 | 1,600/- |
| Hippopotamus | 1200/ | 8 | 9,600/- |
| Sloth Bear | 600/- | 3 | 1,800/- |
| Himalayan Black Bear | 600/- | 6 | 3,600/- |
| Deer species housed in the zoo | 120 | 5,000/- | |
| Herbivores in herbivore safari | 1250 | 70,000/- | |
| Average one-day feeding cost | 2,69,500/- |
Where to donate
Donations can be made through NEFT/RTGS to the following account:
Account Number: 89470100014031
IFSC code: BARB0VJBGHA (5th digit is zero)
Account name: Member Secretary & Chief Conservator of Forests,
Zoo Authority of Karnataka,
Bank of Baroda, Bannerghatta Branch
Interested adopters can log on to https://bannerghattabiologicalpark.org for further details and enquires can be sent to educationbbp@gmail.com.
Tax rebate
Upon receipt of the donor details,a certificate and a receipt to acknowledge their contribution will be issued. There is a provision for IT rebate under 80G for animal adoption/donation. Exemptions u/s 80G (5) (iv) of Income Tax Act, 1961 is granted to Zoo Authority of Karnataka which is valid from AY 2011-12 and onwards vide Commissioner of Income Tax, Mysore letter No. 2-1/80G/CIT/ Mys/2010-11.
