Fico adopts two more Ludhiana zoo denizens

LUDHIANA: The Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organization (Fico) has adopted two more animals to support The Times of India's campaign 'Bear and Foster'. Earlier, the industrial grouping had adopted the national bird, peacock, for a year. Now, it has adopted a barking deer and a parrot.
After TOI highlighted the apathetic condition of Ludhiana zoo and the state government passing a 'zero budget' for wildlife, city residents started approaching the zoo for adopting the animals it is home to.The do-gooders have crossed borders and individuals, and now even NRIs and industrialists have shown compassion for the animals.
Fico president Gurmeet Kular said they were just keeping their word. "As I had promised earlier, we are adopting more animals," he said.
Kular described wildlife animals as "precious". "As far as Ludhiana zoo is concerned, this is the only place where we can take our kids to get them close to nature and wildlife. More people should come forward to support the cause," he said. "It's time to show that if the government does not take care of our wildlife, we will sypport the cause."
Kular said even he had childhood memories of the zoo. "Watching bears, tigers, deer and birds was always enriching," he said, adding that the zoo should be upgraded with proper facilities and there should be more wildlife for the future generations to feel the same excitement, so that they too have the will to contribute."
The cheque for adopting the animals has been handed over by Fico to The Times of India and it will later be handed over to the zoo authorities.
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THE DO-GOODERS
Vinay Malhotra, businessman from Madhopuri, has offered to adopt a blackbuck and a barking deer (Rs 2,000)
Amit Thaman, businessman from Model Town, has offered to adopt two blackbucks (Rs 2,000)
Kapil Sharma, an NRI, has adopted a sambhar and a parrot for a month (Rs 1,850)
Namita Kaushal, a teacher, has adopted three peacocks and a parrot (Rs 360)
Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, has adopted two big cats (Rs 50,000)
Dr Kalpana Singh and Dr Akriti Singh have adopted a barking deer (Rs 1,000)
Varun Jain, businessman, has adopted 10 peacocks (Rs 850)
BK Goyal has adopted a silver dove and a peacock for one year (Rs 1,440)