Minister Ale provides Rs 125 thousand to Central Zoo

KATHMANDU: Minister for Forests and Environment Prem Bahadur Ale has personally provided Rs 125 thousand to the Central Zoo at Jawalakhel for managing fodder for the elephants there.

He handed over the amount to the Central Zoo chief Dr Chiranjibi Prasad Pokharel at a brief function organised the Ministry on Friday.

Minister Ale made the financial contribution citing lack of money for feeding the zoo animals due to the decrease in the number of visitors coming to the zoo owing to the COVID-19 risk, said Rabin Gyalan, Minister Ale’s personal secretary.

The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) had also initiated the ‘adopt animal’ campaign on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of its taking over the management of the Central Zoo, following paucity of funds for managing feed for the zoo animals.

Backing the campaign, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had pledged to provide money for feeding the one-horned rhino for a month.

Minister Ale also expressed the commitment on the occasion to mobilize assistance to the campaign from other sectors as well for feeding the zoo animals.

NTNC member-secretary Sharad Adhikari said it would be easy to manage the feed for elephants at the zoo for one month with the money provided by the Minister.