Tax rebates for zoo 'adoptions'

By Sanjaya Jena
Bhubaneswar

The zoo is facing financial pressures Pic: Sanjib Mukherjee

Taxpayers who 'adopt' animals in a zoo in the eastern Indian state of Bhubaneshwar are to be given rebates.

People will be entitled to the tax breaks if they donate anything between the equivalent of 20 cents up to $25,640 to Nandan Kanan zoo.

The zoo's annual costs amount to some 10 million rupees ($256,000), most of which goes to feeding and looking after the animals.

Officials hope the scheme will strengthen conservation efforts.

'Mass awareness'

The chief of Nandan Kanan zoo, Ajit Patnaik, said the animal adoption for tax breaks scheme will begin early next year.

People will be able to 'adopt' a tiger by paying an annual donation of 80,000 rupees ($2,050). Adopting a bird will cost some 100 rupees ($2.5).

People will be allowed to "adopt an entire lion or tiger safari" with an annual donation of 800,000 rupees ($20,510) to 1 million rupees.

"I hope this move will create a mass awareness about conservation of birds and animals. It will also ease the financial pressures on the park," Mr Patnaik said.

Zoo officials say special enclosures will be set up for the animals and the names of people who adopt them will be displayed outside.

Income tax rebates are given in India on a variety of donations, but they are usually for causes to benefit people.