Adopting cats and dogs are quite common in countries across the world. But animal lovers are also adopting wild animals in India. And there has been quite an increase in these adoptions. As per the latest news reports, a Retired Wing Commander, GB Athri adopted a Giraffe, named Yadhunandan at Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bangalore. He donated Rs 1 lakh to the park, and took the giraffe home. Again, another journalist and Twitter user, Shiv Aroor also adopted crocodiles under a crowdfunding effort. So, how can you adopt a wild animal in India? What are the laws behind the animal adoption process?How can you donate and help the Indian Zoos? From Giraffe and crocodiles to tigers, here’s how you can adopt wild animals in our country. Know Ways to be Kind to Animals. 

Yadhunandan, Giraffe Adopted by Retd. Wing Commander GB Athri

Yadhunandan, a giraffe was recently adopted by Retired Wing Commander GB Athri in Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta Biological Park. He donated Rs 1 lakh to the park and adopted the animal. Yadhunandan is nearly 18 months old, and he lost his mother before being relocated to BBBP.

Shiv Aroor Adopted Two Crocodiles

Last month, this Twitter user and journalist adopted two crocodiles under a crowdfunding effort by the Madras Crocodile Bank, after donating some amount to the park. During the coronavirus crisis, it has been difficult for the trust to take care of the animals; hence adoption appeal and donation is helping them to run the centre and also take care of the reptiles.

Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand Adopting Crocodile 

Chess grandmaster, Vishwanathan Anand too adopted a crocodile, donating at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, during the ongoing pandemic.

How to Adopt Wild Animals, Donate and Help Zoos in India?

The upkeep of tigers and elephants cost the highest in most zoos, while birds and reptiles are often cost the least. Zoos across the countries encourage citizens to donate as much as possible and also adopt animals to give them better care and shelter. But how do you adopt wild animals in India? Legally, India does not allow private ownership of endangered species, including tigers. Ownership of animals such as the wild cats is forbidden unless the person has a certificate of ownership for a wild animal he or she already possessed on or before the commencement of Wildlife Protection Law, enacted in 1972.

However, people who are really interested in adopting a wild animal, can do so at a zoo. Bannerghatta Biological Park, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru, Alipore Zoological Gardens in Kolkata, Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park in Punjab, Tripura Wildlife Sanctuary and Zoo, are some of the top national parks which are home to a variety of species and up for adoption. You can donate some amount to the zoo and take home animals who are up for adoption. Some zoos like the Mysuru Zoo allows you to keep an animal for a certain period, as a part of its wildlife conservation.

This is how you can adopt a wild animal in India. Celebrities have also made such schemes popular. Cricketers like MS Dhoni, Zaheer Khan and Animal Kumble are known to pitch in with financially by adopting wild animals from famous zoos in India.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 24, 2020 03:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).