Struggling to care for its animals, the Yangon Zoo is putting them up for adoption.
Myanmar’s oldest and second-largest zoo is appealing to the public to adopt its tigers, lions, elephants, bears, red pandas and more after going months with few visitors. Joining the newly announced adoption program means getting a certificate displaying one’s love for their animal of choice once the temporary adoption ends.
“These days, animal adoptions are popular around the world, and it can be done here to make an awareness for a more eco-friendly environment,” zoo administrator Kyaw Ye Thiha Phay told reporters, promising to announce more details soon.
There’s no cause for alarm – adoption doesn’t mean taking them home. Instead, they will keep your baby at the zoo and allow “parents” to visit them 30 times. Currently available plans include paying for three months or six months of meals, medical care and welfare activities.
The zoo was shut down as part of restrictions enacted to contain the coronavirus. Though it partially reopened last month for visitors to feed animals and encounter lonely animals, only two groups are allowed in each day for 30 minutes each under new rules including mandatory masks and social distancing.
That’s meant little or no revenue to take care the 1,400 animals at the former government-run facility that’s been managed by the Htoo Group of Companies since 2011. The same group manages zoological gardens at Mandalay and Naypyitaw.
Food can be arranged by the visitors themselves or by donation. Any food from outside will be checked for the safety of the animals.
Those interested in adopting an animal can contact the Yangon Zoo at 096-820-11170 for more details.
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