The Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, has formally requested Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel to provide two pairs of Asiatic lions for the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo in Byculla area of Mumbai.
Tawde has written a letter to Patel, requesting him to send lions for Byculla zoo.
He letter comes after years of delay in acquiring lions for the newly constructed enclosure.
The Asiatic lion enclosure at the zoo has been designed to replicate the Maldhari community settlements near Kutch and Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat, featuring mud houses, thatched roofs, and spacious caves. Facilities include water arrangements, shelters for rest and shade, elevated platforms, dense plantation for privacy, and a viewing gallery with acrylic glass for visitors.
Enclosure ready
Despite the enclosure being ready, it has remained empty since its construction, causing disappointment among visitors and animal enthusiasts.
Earlier, a proposal was submitted to Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagadh in Gujarat, which houses the largest number of Asiatic lions in the country.
The proposal, approved in March 2019, suggested an exchange of two male and two female lions in return for zebras, cockatiels, night herons, and a hornbill. However, the unavailability of zebras stalled the transfer, leaving the lion enclosure vacant.
Letter to Gujarat CM
Tawde has requested CM Patel to intervene as a goodwill gesture to ensure that the citizens of Mumbai can enjoy the Asiatic lions at the zoo. The mayor highlighted that the zoo has undergone significant modernisation under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), including new enclosures for tigers, sloth bears, hyenas, leopards, spotted deer, monkeys, and aviary birds, along with visitor amenities such as gardens, ticketing offices, toilets, and a quarantine area.
Byculla zoo to expand penguin enclosure
Meanwhile, last month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had stated that it has decided to temporarily move the penguins from public view during the off-season months of June, July, and August to facilitate the expansion of their existing enclosure and living space. The upgrade will increase the capacity of the facility to accommodate up to 40 penguins.
The current enclosure can house only up to 25 birds. At present, the Byculla Zoo has 21 Humboldt penguins, 14 of which were born in Mumbai over the past nine years. mid-day had first reported in July last year that the BMC was planning to provide the penguins with a larger habitat.
During the expansion of their existing 1800 sq-ft enclosure and display area, the penguins will be shifted to an adjacent enclosure. This facility was earlier used to quarantine the birds when they were first brought to Mumbai in 2016 and closely replicates their current living space.
The expansion is part of the ongoing construction of an aquarium at the Byculla Zoo, for which work has already begun. At the time the original penguin enclosure was built, space behind it had been reserved for future expansion projects.
Zoo’s revenue
Mumbai’s Humboldt penguins remain one of the biggest attractions at the Byculla Zoo. Over the past three financial years — from March 2023 to January 2026 — the BMC has earned Rs 28.1 crore in revenue from the zoo. Entry fees are Rs 50 for adults, Rs 25 for children, and Rs 100 for a family of four (parents and two children). Zoo revenue typically dips during the monsoon months of July, August, and September, with collections also lower in June compared to the rest of the year. The highest revenue is recorded in May, coinciding with school vacations, and during the festive months of November and December.
