Junagadh City News Samachar - Wildlife Conservation Week at Sakkarbaug Zoo

The 146-year-old Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh is celebrating Wildlife Conservation Week from Sunday. As part of the celebrations, zoo authorities have come up with wild animal adoption and zoo friend schemes for locals.

No entry fee will be charged throughout the week. A cheetah photography competition will be held on August 22 and 23.

Zoo Director V J Rana said: “The wild animal adoption and zoo friend schemes are open for all. An individual, organisation, NGO and business house among others can adopt species like mammals, birds and reptiles.”

Under this scheme, the adopter has to bear the expenses of the adopted animal for at least a month. In return, the adopter will have the right to name the animal besides getting a certificate and free entry to the zoo, he added.

According to Rana, the zoo is home to over 1,100 wild animals and houses 83 species of mammals, birds and reptiles. It is the only zoo in the country to have two pairs of African Cheetah, which were brought here recently from Singapore. The zoo was established in 1863 by the erstwhile princely state of Junagadh.