LAHORE: (Tuesday, June 21, 2011): In a crowded ceremony held at Lahore Zoo, Punjab University Department of Zoology adopted two tigers namely Sam and Mohni for a year here on Tuesday. Vice Chancellor Punjab University Dr Mujahid Kamran was the chief guest while PU Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Akhter, PUCAD Principal Prof Dr Rahat Naveed Masood, Director External Linkages Maria Maldonodo, RO-1 Javed Sami, Director General Wildlife and Parks Dr Zafar Nasrullah and Director Lahore Zoo Dr Zahid Iqbal Bhatti were also present on the occasion. Talking to media, PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran said that adopting animals promoted human sentiments among the people. He said that looking after animals could help eliminate torture from the society.

He said keeping this idea in view, the university had taken this step. He said that beauty was the worst enemy of the tigers and the man was recklessly killing this beautiful creature, which had resulted in a threat of their extinction.

He said that the university would try to create an endowment fund for saving such creatures. He said that if the expected HEC grant continued, the varsity would prolong this project. PU Registrar Dr Muhammad Akhter thanked the VC and DG, saying that it would provide and opportunity to Zoology students to do research on animals.

He said that the Punjab University would be spending twelve hundred and fourteen thousand rupees (Rs 1,214,000) for annual expenditures of these tigers. DG Wildlife and Parks Dr Zafar said this joint venture would help in productivity and life of such rare animals. He said common people would also benefit from these researches as it would make animals live a better life and continue giving a chance to the people for enjoying from the creations of the nature.

Director Lahore Zoo Dr Zahid Iqbal Bhatti thanked the Punjab University and said that the partnership and adoption program would help get scientific data. Later, PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran along with faculty members gave away the cheque of Rs 1,214,000 to Lahore Zoo.