![Hyderabad couple adopts 121-year-old giant tortoise at Nehru park for a year](http://media.assettype.com/nationwide%2F2021-03%2F5e0c7067-e0a6-4627-ab33-6e804a8110c7%2FTortoise1.jpg?rect=0%2C0%2C1083%2C609&w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
The 121-year-old Galapagos Giant Tortoise at the Nehru Zoological Park was adopted by a Hyderabad-based couple and their family.
According to reports, Saroj Devi and her husband Ashish Kumar along with their family members visited the Nehru Zoological Par, Hyderabad and expressed their interest to adopt a "Galapagos Giant Tortoise," which is 121-year-old and also known as a senior citizen of the zoo. The family even handed over a cheque of Rs 30,000 to the Zoo authorities towards the adoption of the giant tortoise.
Deputy Curator of the zoo A Nagamani thanked the family for showing interest in adopting the "Galapagos Giant Tortoise" for a year and thereby strengthening the Wildlife Conservation Programme in the Zoo Park.
While expressing their happiness, Saroj Devi said that she hopes that their decision will encourage more citizens to come forward for the adoption of animals at the zoo.
Earlier, in the wake of Coronavirus, some zoos in the country reported that it was difficult to take care of animals and they had introduced online animal adoption. The move helps the people to virtually 'adopt' any animal of their choice for a specific time period and the money that they pay will be used to meet the food, grooming and medical expenses of that animal. Many animals including lions and tigers to snakes were up for adoption.