Jumbo’s kids adopt lion, giraffe.

April 12, 2011 By S.V. Krishna Chaitanya DC  Mysore

 

Vice chairman of Karnataka Wildlife Board Anil Kumble with his family at Mysore Zoo — KPN

Cricketer, and Karnataka Wildlife Board vice-chairman, Anil Kumble said that the Mysore Zoo will be given a face-lift soon, to raise it to world-class standards, to attract more visitors.
Addressing press persons at the zoo premises here on Monday, he said that several more rare and exotic species of animals will be added to the zoo, through animal exchange programmes in the country, and abroad.
Kumble, who is also ambassador for the Mysore zoo, said that a zebra will be brought to the zoo from South Africa soon. He visited the zoo with his wife Chethana, son Mayas, and daughters Aaruni and Swasthi, to view the pure Asiatic lions in their new enclosure. The lions were brought from Gir forest of Gujarat, after a request to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
“This is the first time in ten years that the Gujarat government has sent Asiatic lions outside the state. I will approach liquor baron Vijay Mallya, for financial aid for enriching the Zoo with more rare species," Kumble said.
Kumble has named the lion pair as Gowri and Shankara. Shankara was adopted by Kumble’s daughters for a year by paying Rs 1 lakh. They also adopted a giraffe, Lakshmi, paying Rs 25,000 for its maintenance.
Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/jumbo%E2%80%99s-kids-adopt-lion-giraffe-579