Sena chief opens new penguin enclosure, takes swipe at BJP

While inaugurating the much-awaited Humboldt penguin enclosure at Byculla Zoo on Friday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took a swipe at the BJP on the issue of transparency, asserting that his party's functioning in the civic body "is as clear as glass and no one should doubt it".

The Humboldt penguin enclosure will be open to the public from Saturday. For the time being, however, visitors will only have to pay the normal admission charges of Rs 5 for adults and Rs 3 for children to visit the enclosure.

Since the Shiv Sena snapped ties with the BJP ahead of the recently concluded BMC elections, the BJP has constantly raised the issue of transparency in the Sena-controlled civic body.

Thackeray praised the BMC's initiative of bringing penguins to the city zoo and achieving the feat of becoming the first civic body in the country to do so. "When actions speak, there is not much need for words. Today, the civic body's actions have spoken," said Thackeray, adding that the work done in the last 10 years was starting to show.

With the inauguration of the Humboldt penguin enclosure, the Byculla Zoo has been given a new lease on life. "I remember the time when there were zebras in the zoo. Due to a lack of maintenance, it was lying in a deplorable condition for quite some time. Like Rani Bagh Zoo, this heritage site will also be restored," said Thackeray.

Soon, the zoo will witness an influx of about 18 more animals.

Thackeray added, "People visit the Gateway of India and BMC headquarters which are both British landmarks. What we leave behind for the next generation will be remembered".

Thackeray added that by bringing penguins to the city, residents will now have one more place to visit for leisure.