Ahmedabad: Sundarvan Nature Discovery Center, the only Zoo Mini City run by non-governmental organizations, facing financial problems due to interference due to Covid-19 in the past two years.
Founded in 1978 by the famous Ornithology of Salim Ali, Mini-Zoo received a major part of its income from entrance tickets and natural awareness programs and other wildlife.
It started the fundraising program earlier this week to stay.
This center, which is located in the Jodhpur Tekra area, is run by the Center for Environmental Education (CEE), and the Karmakshetra Education Foundation.
“All of our activities have a big setback because Covid.
The flow of visitors also dipped in the past two years because Covid.
To overcome this crisis, we reach people to contribute.
The average monthly expenses are around Rs 5 lakh for maintenance and security, cleaning staff , electricity, wages, etc.
The cost of food for animals is around Rs 1 lakh per month, “said Suresh Nair, Senior Program, the Sundervan Center for Environmental Education Center (CEE).
The Sundarvan program was funded by the CEE, and the main portion of funding came through the central government scheme which was discarded a few years ago.
As a result, programs such as ‘green birthday’ celebrations, overnight camping, traces of nature, bat awareness programs, spiders, bird watching, tree identification and school visits to the main source of funds for Zoo.
This is the income of the ticket.
“Sundarvan is not at the stage where he faces close closure.
But there are financial problems and fundraising programs that begin recently showing positive results.
Assistance is also needed to make it a first-class facilities should be,” said Kartikeya Sarabhai, founder of Director Cee.
Through social media and other platforms, Sundarvan authorities have urged people and organizations to contribute even by adopting their animals by providing their treatment costs for one month.
Sundarvan was recognized as a mini-zoo by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and accommodated birds, mammals and reptiles.
It also has aquarium and butterfly park in the middle of thick vegetation from many tree species.
The zoo has become an educational platform for many people who have played on this land and have grown to become a citizen who realized nature and now bring their children here.
“People often ask me about the compact sundarvan size.
I told them that people went to a temple to peek at the mystery of the universe.
Likewise, the Sundarvan Center has become the first contact point to see the nature as a whole for many people Who has grown into bird observers and snake lovers, “said Sarabhai.
Three months ago, the snake park in Sundarvan was renewed and redesigned in a project funded by Wagh Bakri Tea Group as part of the company’s social responsibility (CSR).