Sidhu’s Royal gesture, adopts tigers at Chhatbir

Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 17

Six-year-old Aman and his five-year-old companion Dia are now the responsibility of Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who adopted the pair of the Royal Bengal tigers at Chhatbir zoo here today. 

The cricketer-turned-politician has to dish out Rs 4,12,800 per annum for the purpose. The adoption took place under the ADOPT (Animals Depend On People Too) scheme of the zoo, which was launched here around six years ago.

Dia is a white Royal Bengal tiger, born in the zoo in 2013, while Aman, born in 2012 at a Kanpur zoo, was brought here in 2015. Dia’s brother Love, was given to the Kanpur zoo in exchange for Aman by the Chhatbir zoo authorities. 

Sidhu visited the zoo today to review a development project under which the Punjab Cultural and Tourism Department is spending Rs 7.90 crore to provide top-class facilities to visitors at the zoo.

While taking a round of the zoo, Sidhu took the decision to adopt the pair of the Royal Bengal tigers after watching them play in their enclosure. 

“Both are majestic. I am in love with them. I will also adopt their cubs in future”, said Sidhu.

According to the zoo authorities, several persons show interest in adopting animals and birds at the zoo. 

“We have over 100 persons in our list so far, who have adopted one or more  animals/birds at the zoo. The money that we receive from people who adopt animals is used only on those animals/birds. We use the money mainly on their feed,” said Harpal Singh, a senior official at the zoo. 

At the zoo, the adoption charges for lion/tiger are the second highest at Rs 2,06,400 yearly (Rs 17,200 per month). 

An elephant at the Chhatbir zoo has the highest adoption cost of Rs 23,900 per month and Rs 2,86,800 per annum, while the cheapest adoption price is that of dove and budgerigar at Rs 50 each for a month and Rs 600 for a year. 

Both are majestic. I am in love with them. I will also adopt their cubs in future.— Navjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab minister