The Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo in Byculla, popularly known as Rani Baug, is a top tourist destination in Mumbai. | BL Soni
Singapore has one of the finest zoos in the world. New York boasts of Bronx Zoo and Berliners take pride in showing off their zoological garden. The question being asked by Mumbaikars and tour operators is when the metropolis will have a world-class zoo. Said K Kumar, Chembur resident: “Our zoo does not hold any attraction to Mumbaikars any more because it has so little to offer.” A big city tour operator, who did not wish to be identified, said the infrastructure at the zoo in Mumbai was pathetic. “Also the crowds are ill-mannered,” he added.
The Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo in Byculla, popularly known as Rani Baug, is a top tourist destination in Mumbai. With winter holidays coming up, the zoo is expected to witness high footfall, especially the children eager to see various birds and animals, and the not-to-be-missed penguins. In May 2023, the city’s only botanical garden and zoo broke all records and registered 4.5 lakh footfall. With the rising popularity of the municipal corporation-run zoo, the question arises: Can Mumbai get an international-level zoo?
On one hand, environmentalists and animal activists allege that the government wants to either shut down or shift the zoo to the suburbs and hand over the prime south Mumbai plot to private developers; the authorities, on the other hand, are firm that the upgradation and facilities provided at the Byculla Zoo, a Grade II heritage site, are of international level.
“The upgradation at Byculla Zoo and the facilities provided to the animals are of international standards. Apart from the upgradation of 50 acres of land, the green spaces were protected. No tree in the botanical garden was touched, and thousands of trees were preserved and nourished,” said the director of Byculla Zoo, Dr Sanjay Tripathi. “The days are gone when there were questions raised if BMC would shut down or shift Byculla Zoo,” he added. The zoo has an annual budget of about Rs50 crore.
However, animal activists have contrary opinions, saying not only that the government is incapable of setting up a world-class zoo in Mumbai but in the near future the land parcels of Byculla Zoo are most likely to go to private developers. Dr Nilesh Bhanage, founder of People for Plants & Animal Welfare Society, said, “If Byculla Zoo is to be converted to world-class standards, entire re-modifications need to be done, which is possible by a private party only as our government won’t be able to manage it, considering permissions required from central zoo authorities. To modify the zoo, additional land will be required, for which either the botanical garden will be reclaimed or the zoo needs to be shifted.”
“However, if the zoo is shifted, it will be easy for private developers to grab the land. Thus, we want that there should be no modifications. Let the zoo and botanical garden be as it is,” Dr Bhanage said.
Pawan Sharma, founder of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare, said that rather than bringing in non-native species to Mumbai, protecting the existing biodiversity is important.
Questions were raised when the BMC proposed to build a bird park – an extension of Byculla Zoo in Nahur, Mulund, for which tenders have also been invited. The environmentalists expressed surprise as the BMC has proposed to convert the 6.5 acres of Nahur plot reserved for a garden / park to land reserved for a zoo. Environmentalist and director of Vanashakti Stalin D said, “BMC can do anything. It can build a zoo right in the middle of the city [Nahur Bird Park] and can gradually shift the Byculla Zoo, in the name of extension, to the suburbs. The zoo land is a multi-crore prime property and an ideal location for private builders in south Mumbai. BMC is gradually working towards easy closure of Byculla Zoo.”
Byculla Zoo
Established: 1862
Area: 60 acres
Mammals: 79 (10 species)
Birds: 257 (15 species)
Reptiles: 21 (6 species)
Botanical Garden
64: Internal pocket gardens spread over an area of 52000 square metres
4,132: Number trees
15: Medicinal trees
291: Rare trees
