RARE INDIAN ANIMALS FOR ADOPTION

A nature park in the northern Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh is offering animals for adoption in an effort to ensure their well-being, a news agency reported on Saturday.

The animals on offer include rare Himalayan species like the snow leopard, Tibetan wolf and the Monal pheasant, the IANS agency reported.

A yak can be adopted for $46.50 (about R296) a month, a Tibetan wolf for $42, a brown or black bear for $33 and a Monal pheasant for less than 7 dollars.

The adoption is open to individuals and corporate bodies. The adopted animals and birds would stay in the park and the money raised would be spent on their upkeep, said Himachal wildlife department official RS Chauhan.

He said the wildlife department's initiative came after some animals died in the park, located nearly 3 000m above sea level in the Himalayan foothills, about 16km north of Himachal capital Shimla.

Sponsors will be kept informed of how their money is being spent and would have free access to the park, Chauhan said. -Sapa-dpa