DEHRADUN: Dehradun zoo authority is going online for the adoption of the animals kept there. Director Zoo maintains that it would be for the first time that online bidding for zoo animal adoption would be opened anywhere in the country where the person bidding maximum price would be given the adoption rights of specific animals for one year.Director of Dehradun Zoo and divisional forest official PK Patro said, "There are some zoos in the country where animals are adapted online as well but not through bidding process. There the volunteers pay the charges as quoted by the zoo authorities for the maintenance and food of animals ranging from big to small sizes. But we would do it differently. We will give base price on our website where volunteers will be asked to bid how much more they are willing to pay. The ones with highest bids will be given the preference over others."He said, zoo is in the process of expanding itself with additional infrastructure and animals from other zoo where the authority wishes to manage their expenses by themselves without being dependent on the state government. And the enthusiasm of the volunteers who came forward for adaption of Dehradun zoo animals inspired him to opt for online bidding , which he is intending to start in couple of months.Out of total 165, 130 animals have been adapted by the volunteers ranging from individuals to industrialists, hoteliers to government institutions in Dehradun Zoo who are paying annual fee of Rs 7.60 lakh. These adapted animal species include leopards, silver and golden pheasants, cheetal, sambar, macau, amu, ostrich etc.Shefali Roy, writer and educationist who has adapted barking deer, two Macau, silver and golden pheasant each for Rs 1.22 lakh annually welcomed the idea saying "I feel saddened to see people moving away from nature and enjoying gadgets and noisy parties to unwind instead.Owing to my love for nature, I have adapted these animals and have offered my free services as story teller on animals for children in the zoo free of cost. The zoo is the only option in the cities where children can learn about animals and develop respect for them."Mohit Dang , hotelier has adapted four owls. "An owl was shot down by someone while flying over my farm house in Dehradun district. I took it to the Dehradun zoo for treatment and volunteered for adoption of all the four owls in the zoo including the injured one thereon. I feel connection with the bird and often go to see it there." He said, he has been facilitating safari trip to Rajaji Tiger Reserve for his visitors whereby he also sensitized them about how to behave in their habitat.

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