Planned progress

The Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park authorities have proposed to create a registered society to expedite its development.

The proposed autonomous body — Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park Management and Development Society — would undertake various development activities using its own resources, including donations from individuals and organisations. “We have drafted the byelaws for the proposed body and sent it to the environment and forests department for approval. The society would have two components — the governing body and the executive committee — comprising 10 members. They would generate revenue and undertake development activities in the zoo,” said zoo director S. Chandrashekhar.

According to sources, many development projects in Patna zoo get stuck in red tape before execution. The proposed society would help the zoo get rid of this issue. “At present, even a minor renovation inside the zoo requires permission from the state environment and forests department, which co-ordinates with various other departments, including finance and labour resources, before a final approval is granted. This takes a lot of time before the execution of any plan. The proposed registered society would take care of most of the commercial aspects of the zoo, including revenue generation and expenditures, for development activities,” said a senior official at Patna zoo. The proposed society would have the power to utilise funds generated through donations and animal adoption scheme. “Among other sources of revenue, the proposed registered society may also receive donations from individuals and organisations. Such funds would be solely utilised for development activities,” said Chandrashekhar.

The zoo director claimed that one of the benefits of the proposed society would be tax exemption under the animal adoption scheme. “At present, people do not get tax exemption for adopting animals at the zoo. Under section 80G, people get exemption for donation to societies registered under the Societies Registration Act. Once the proposed zoo society is formed, people would start getting the tax exemption for adopting animals,” said Chandrashekhar.

The zoo director said a reduction in the animal adoption charges had also been proposed.

Lions to Nandankanan

Patna zoo would send two hybrid lions to Nandankanan zoo in Odisha for promoting its breeding. “Both the hybrid lions with us are female African hybrid. Thus, we cannot conduct breeding activities. However, the Nandankanan zoo has more hybrid lions and they are looking for lionesses in the same breed to increase their number. Thus, we are planning to send the two lionesses to them,” said Chandrashekhar.

According to zoo sources, lions were first brought to Patna zoo from the wild in 1976. There are seven lions at Patna zoo at present — two male, three female and two cubs. Out of the three female lions, two are African hybrid and the third is an Asiatic lion. The two males are Asiatic lions.