Actress Neetu Chandra at Patna zoo on Wednesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Oct. 19: Neetu Chandra may soon go the Mahi way.

Like the Team India captain who has adopted a tiger at Mysore zoo, the Bollywood actress today said she was keen to be associated with the animal adoption scheme slated for launch in Patna zoo.

The city girl, who visited Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park this morning, said: “I have been associated with the zoo since my childhood. I will be very happy if I can join the upcoming animal adoption scheme here.” She said she loves the fresh air at the zoo.

While she was jogging at the Patna zoo, Neetu recollected her childhood days when she used to visit the zoo almost everyday.

“I have been coming to Patna zoo since I was in Class IV. I used to complete three to four rounds of the jogging track everyday. May be this habit has kept me physically and mentally fit. I believe people of Patna, including me, are fortunate to have such dense greenery along with rich wildlife in the heart of the city,” Neetu said.

The actress also used to practise taekwondo in the zoo before she became a karate black belt.

Clad in black jogging track pants and a red half-sleeve top with a pink zippered jacket with a hood, the 27-year old also expressed her affection towards her winged friends at Patna zoo.

“While I cherish the soothing environment of the zoo, the hundreds of birds that are here are very close to my heart. When one gets up early in the morning and comes to the zoo to take a stroll, the chirping of birds among the trees rejuvenates both the mind and the body,” she said.

She also expressed her attachment to the toy train and the children’s park on the zoo premises.

However, she did have a few suggestions for the authorities of the zoo to make the experience of the visitors more pleasurable.

“I wished an outlet of one of the renowned food chains could be opened inside the zoo. I have heard that eateries in Patna are doing good business and if one such outlet is opened in the zoo I am sure both visitors as well as the owners would benefit. Moreover, the existing canteen at the zoo also needs renovation,” said Neetu.

The actress said she was deeply attached with the state capital. “No one should forget their roots,” she added.