Janardhana Reddy adopts three tiger cubs, elephant calf

BENGALURU: Failing to push through his ambitious project `Night Safari' at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) a few years ago, former tourism minister and mining giant G Janardhana Reddy paid a surprise visit to the Park along with his friends. In fact, Reddy's visit on Thursday was his second visit here in less than 15 days after visited the Park recently along with family friends.
Reddy was amazed by the development at the park and appreciated the conservation work of officials.However, Reddy had not forgotten the project he strived to implement at the BBP, for he urged the executive director to pursue it. “When he visited us last week, he lamented that he could not implement the project owing to legal hurdles. He advised us to pursue it as it would help promote tourism and bring in a huge revenue,“ a BBP offi cial who was privy to the meeting last week told Bangalore Mirror.
When the BBP staff briefed him about the birth of tiger cubs and an elephant calf, Reddy was not only elated but offered to adopt them. “Janardhana Reddy paid a total of Rs 4.75 lakh as the adoption cost of the four animals and we handed him over the certificates appreciating his charity,“ Santosh Kumar, the executive director said.
Proud of his friendship with Ballari parliamentarian B Sriramulu, Reddy yet again boasted his friendship with Ramulu by naming the elephant calf Sriramulu. Reddy adopted the three tiger cubs ­ Arunya, Shambhavi and Shiva ­ for a period of one year.