Animal lovers and egotists can have creatures named after them for up to $170,000 a year in a new fund-raising plan by the cash-strapped Guangzhou Zoo.
Sponsors would be allowed 'private' time to play with or photograph their animals and would have exclusive rights to use them in advertisements, the state-run institution said.
Names of contributors will be carved on cages and carried on a banner at the zoo's entrance.
According to initial estimates, the annual sponsorship for the panda in the zoo is about $170,000, while that for an elephant is about $100,000 and $80,000 for a tiger.
Zoo manager Liang Runtian said the programme was open to Hong Kong animal lovers too.
'We are not solely aiming at making money. The scheme can help arouse public awareness of animal welfare and protection,' he said.
