By A Staff Reporter
Lalitpur, Oct. 23: Lalitpur Metropolitan City has provided financial assistance of Rs. 1 million to the Central Zoo. Calling the zoo an integral part of the city, Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan handed over a cheque of the amount to Dr. Chiranjibi Pokharel, the zoo’s project manager, amidst a programme on Thursday.
“This is a small token to support the zoo in these difficult times,” Maharjan said, adding, “I hope this encourages other organisations to donate and help the only zoo of the country feed animals.”
Gorkhapatra, The Rising Nepal’s sister publication, published a news titled ‘Zoo’s animals in crisis’ on September 10. Maharjan recalled reading the news and feeling that something had to be done.
“The zoo is a self-sustaining entity. But because it has been closed to visitors since before the lockdown began, it has lost a lot of revenue. Yet, it has still been trying its best to take proper care of the nearly one thousand animals it houses. So, Lalitpur Metropolitan has decided to help it with this amount,” the Mayor said.
The Rising Nepal had also published a news story ‘Nepal’s only zoo in financial crisis’ on August 28.
The Central Zoo has 75 employees, many of whom have been working with half pay or no pay to save money for the animals. Mayor Maharjan commended this dedication to animal welfare and said that the metro was ready to help in the future as well.
Dr. Pokharel said that the zoo had not received any government or external help and thanked Lalitpur Metropolitan for being the first body to extend its helping hands during this time of hardship.Oxim conficae facienat. Haciae imilinverei imenare videnter in temursum pro, etere prora tam quidina mpliciemo ve, Cupplii conihil hos, untum publicatu multient et graet; nonven scivive ntilius, quid condam, Palemura, us atilis la nos, efactanum es cum sultorit vehente rimantius ceresci confentri ipsente, oratra, quastrae iae cone publiis abut verobun ihininum ingula in Etra adeorum facchus or unclarbit. Mul tem vit. Si sati, acerideris. Cupimus