Mysore, July 16: The Mysore zoo, which recently suffered loss of three African Hunting Cheetahs in less than a month, had reasons to cheer as cricketer Rahul Dravid adopted two African Hunting cheetahs - Brinda and Tejas during his visit here on Sunday.
Authorities at the Sri Chamarajendra Zoolgical Gardens were all excited as Dravid arrived to inaugurate the Youth Club activities.
Little did they know that Mr?Dependable, as he is commonly known, would adopt two of the African Hunting cheetahs.
Sources in the zoo told Deccan Herald that Dravid was hesitant to make the announcement public on having adopted the animals. He is said to have adopted two cheetahs for Rs 50,000 each in the names of his two children.
Exchange deal
The cheetahs had been brought by Mysore zoo as part of an exchange deal with Leipzig Zoo, Germany.
One of the adopted cheetahs - Brinda - had given birth to three cubs last year. Dravid joins his former team-mates Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in adopting animals at the Mysore zoo.
Earlier, Mysore Express Javagal Srinath had adopted a jaguar, which was procured from Delhi’s National Zoological Park in 2005 under an exchange programme.
His former team-mate Anil Kumble has already adopted a giraffe calf - Lakshmi - and an Asiatic Lion. Last year, pace bowler Zaheer and Dhoni had adopted one Royal Bengal Tiger each.
Other high profile visitors to the zoo, who have adopted animals, include former chief minister B?S?Yeddyurappa, minister V?Somanna and yoga guru B?K?S?Iyengar.
In 2011-12, 286 persons adopted animals.¬ Those who want to adopt animals may visit Mysore zoo website: www.mysorezoo.info for further details.
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