HT Correspondent
AGARTALA, Nov 13: In a unique act of environmental stewardship, Tripura BJP MLA Sushanta Deb celebrated his birthday by adopting a Royal Bengal Tiger named Shera at Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary & Zoo. Shera, who arrived at the zoo seven months ago from North Bengal, will now be under Deb’s care for the next three months, during which he will sponsor all expenses for food, medicine, and other essentials for the majestic big cat.
Speaking about his gesture, Deb reflected on his lifelong passion for social work. “Since childhood, I’ve wanted to contribute to society. While people often focus on helping each other, animals also need care and compassion. To preserve environmental balance, we must show love to animals as well. That’s why I chose to mark my birthday here at Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary & Zoo,” Deb shared.
Zoo director Biswajit Das, explaining the zoo’s animal adoption scheme, mentioned that caring for Shera costs around Rs 7.70 lakh annually. “Our animal adoption program began five years ago, and while the MLA initially faced some administrative challenges, we ultimately received approval from the PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden. An estimated Rs 2 lakh will cover Shera’s needs for the next three months,” Das noted, encouraging more people to adopt animals as a way to support the zoo’s mission.
This adoption initiative highlights MLA Deb’s dedication not only to public service but to wildlife conservation, urging the community to join in creating a balanced and compassionate environment for all beings.