College students turn penguin guides at Byculla zoo

A voluntary move by two students from St Xavier's College has not only made visits to the Humboldt Penguin enclosure in Byculla Zoo more interesting and interactive but has also prompted the zoo officials to approach more colleges and make it a regular feature.

While the two students of TYBSc, Sandra Pereira and Dolsy David, had approached the zoo officials regarding a project that didn't materialise, AL Paranjape, the zoo's public relations and education officer instead offered them the opportunity to help create awareness about the penguins among visitors. The students readily agreed and after their training, they began volunteering at the penguin enclosure in Byculla zoo from April 12. Two students of MSc from Ruia college joined them too.

The students share interesting information about the penguins with visitors including the names of the seven penguins, the pairs and fun facts about them. "Tourists are curious about the penguins. Many believe that all penguins need snow or come from Antarctica so we also clear such myths and share the information we have found after researching on the Humboldt penguins," said Pereira, and added that they would be volunteering till April 30.

"When I visited the zoo earlier, all I did was see the penguins and left without learning anything about them. But on Friday, I saw these volunteers sharing information and it made the whole experience more enriching," said Naved Khan, a visitor, and added that it was sad that the zoo was charging hefty entry fees without any engagement activities for tourists in the penguin enclosure.

"We are in talks with Mumbai University so that more students can be made part of such voluntary initiatives. At the moment the talks are at a very early stage," said Paranjape.