NAGPUR: Want to adopt a tiger? Shell out as little as Rs1 lakh a year and you will have a board with your name hanging on the tiger enclosure of the Maharajbagh Zoo. The zoo, which has often come under strong criticism for its management, is belatedly launching a programme facilitating the adoption of its animals. Several zoos in the country are already doing it.“The intention is not to take money from the venture but to involve the public in the conservation process. Adoption automatically increases the interest of a person in an animal and that will hopefully increase people’s sensitivity towards them,” said SS Bawaskar, the zoo in-charge.The rate for adoption varies from animal to animal. While a black buck can be adopted for Rs4000 a year, adopting the national animal will cost Rs1 lakh. There are different rates for entire enclosures too. The zoo has also announced certain benefits for those who adopt. “A person or a private company can join the initiative,” added Bawaskar.The benefits include photograph of the adopted animal, one year complimentary pass for five people, framed official certificate of adoption, information about the adopted animal, display of name in front of the adopted animal enclosure for those who dish out between Rs10,000 to Rs25,000.Those who spend (level 2) above Rs 25,000 will have all the above benefits along with T-shirts and cap of the zoo, Zoo Friend membership to one child of the family in the age group 7 to 12 years for 1 year and the opportunity to participate in the daily zoo activities.But the authorities are not very clear about the roles of a Zoo Friend. Similarly, though the cost of adopting each animal is based on the basis of cost of feeding it, the money given by those who adopt won’t be necessarily used for feeding the animal, but for the overall development of the zoo.“If people want to associate with the animals in any other way like arranging for their food or other facilities themselves they are welcome to contact us. Apart from a year, animals can also be adopted for three and six months, the charges of which will be set accordingly,” Bawaskar said. He also added that people interested in adopting animals or their enclosures can start approaching the zoo management immediately and that some have already expressed their interest.