Mysuru: Ace cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy, the brand ambassador for Belagavi Panthers adopted a leopard at the Mysuru Zoo on September 10.
She paid Rs 35,000, the cost of maintaining a leopard for a year and adopted the three year-old Bhavana.
“I am fond of animals and was keen on adopting one at the Mysuru Zoo. As I am cheering the Belagavi Panthers in the ongoing KPL in Mysuru, I thought it fit to adopt a leopard,” she stated.
Krishnamurthy, who has also been invited to inaugurate this year’s Dasara sports, said it was important to conserve wildlife. “I will encourage people to come forward and adopt animals to help conserve wildlife,” she added.
Krishnamurthy, who had sought details on adoption, was given a list of animals and birds, and she opted for a leopard, said Zoo Director Ravi Shankar, who issued a certificate to the ace cricketer after completing the adoption process.
It may be recalled that Sandalwood’s Challenging Star Darshan too has adopted a leopard and an elephant at the Mysuru Zoo.