Will Sourav Ganguly follow in the footsteps of Mahendra Singh Dhoni? Will Debasree Roy do a Priyanka Chopra?

Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan and Piggy Chops have supported the Central Zoo Authority’s adopt-an-animal programme, now it’s the turn of Bengal’s swish set to throw their weight — and money — behind zoo denizens.

Like Dhoni, Sourav has the option of choosing a tiger — the Royal Bengal that he was in his playing days — at a fixed fee of Rs 1.5 lakh per year.

Debasree, Arun Lal, Sabyasachi Chakraborty and others can choose from a list that has heavyweights such as elephants and lions to cutesy cockatoos and pheasants.

The fund-raising concept has found its mooring in India over the past two-three years.

Zoos in Mysore, Lucknow, Pune, Bihar and Haryana have managed to find a Dhoni or a Dia Mirza to adopt animals. The celeb quotient gives the fillip required to tap other potential sponsors.

In Calcutta, the scheme took more than two years to take off. “The scheme will begin from August 4. It will be active in various zoos and animal rescue centres across Bengal. Our aim is mainly to raise awareness. We want to get more people involved in our activities,” said Vinod Kumar Yadav, the acting director and chief conservator of forests, central circle, on Wednesday.

The animal adoption scheme has been around in the west for quite some time. Individuals or corporate houses are encouraged to donate fixed sums annually for the upkeep of one or more adopted animals at zoos.

The Mysore zoo website says several individuals and institutions have joined the adoption scheme. In 2011-12, for instance, some 286 animals have been adopted and Rs 34,55,283 earned. Several sponsors have adopted enclosures instead of one animal.

Lucknow has been running the scheme since 1994 and

In Calcutta the scheme took over two years to take off “The scheme will begin from August 4 and be active not only in the Calcutta zoo but also the various rescue centres and zoos all over Bengal including Darjeeling, Burdwan and others. Our aim is mainly to increase awareness and bonding with society. We want to get more people involved in our activities “ said acting director and chief conservator of forests central circle, Vinod Kumar Yadav on Wednesday .

The Alipore facility has often run short of funds (assigned by the Central Zoo Authority and the state government) in the upkeep of animals and yet 'no donations and sponsorship has ever been accepted for any activity' the only added sources of revenue had been some ' hoardings and canteens inside zoo.' Once the adoption of selected animals and birds take off the 'zoo will agree to donations for maintenance of green areas and gardens, lawns by corporate houses.'

'ONGC Taj Bengal, UBI, some construction companies and individuals have shown interest. We have are approaching celebrities like Sourav Ganguly, Arun Lal, Deboshree Roy and others but haven't had any response yet.'

The ceremonial launch of the 'Adoption of Zoo Animals' Scheme will be at Taj Bengal, Kolkata on August 4 at 3.00 p.m.

Under the Scheme You can gift an adoption and the Adoption amount is exempted under 80G of the Income tax act.

Category, name of animal and rate of adoption:

Category 1 Elephant, Giraffe – Rs 1,50,000 per annum

Category 2 Tiger, Lion, Chimpanzee, - Rs 1, 50, 000 per annum

Category 3 Bears, Leopards, Rhinoceros Kangaroo, Jaguar, Zebra -- 50,000 per annum

Category 4 Ostrich, Macaw – 30,000 per annum

Category 5 Cockatoos, Leopard Cat, Fishing Cat – 20,000 per annum

Category 6 Pheasants common Peafowl – Rs 15,000 per annum

Category 7 Birds other than those above – Rs 10,000 per annum

“The Darjeeling zoo has for the past few years been trying such an initiative for the benefit of Red Pandas but it is only now that they will get government authorisation. The annual budget is usually a minimum of Rs 10-11 crore and there still remains so much that can be done. Rs 20 lakh is needed on food alone. A tiger needs 8-12 kgs of buffalo meat a day for all days of the week except Thursdays when they are on fast. Then there are vitamin and mineral supplements that have to given on a regular basis. So this way if we can share some of the financial responsibility we can think of many other ways to improve conditions in the zoo,” said Yadav.

The sponsorship covers mainly food and medication for the animals but at later stages total responsibility of an animal may be given to the sponsor. That doesnot ofcourse mean special priveleges like taking the animal home or entering the enclosure but adopters may for one year enjoy the following prescribed privileges:

1) They will receive a Certificate and Adoption Card

2) Complimentary non-transferable pass for zoo entry (2-4 persons)

3) Permission to use the photographs of their adopted animal in newspapers, magazine, letterhead, websites

4) Opportunity to celebrate birthday of the sponsor within zoo premises and zoo rules

5) Scope for participation in different seminars and functions organized by the concerned zoo for awareness development and publicity for conservation of endangered and exotic wildlife species

6) Publication of logo, name of institution and individual on a board near the animal enclosure

7) Rules and regulations of the Central Zoo Authority will be followed