Mumbai zoo to be revamped after 150 years

MUMBAI: Nine-year-old lioness Jimmy looks up quizzically from a mid-afternoon snooze, "is it mealtime already?".

Her leopard friend greets the passing zoo official with only a tip-of-the-tail-wag. "It can't be time yet", she knows.

Jimmy and her friends, ensconced at historic Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan (VJBU), are to be shaken up soon, in the first-ever major overall revamp of their surroundings.

VJBU, the almost 150-year old institution, better known as Byculla Zoo, is being transformed into a 'global entity in keeping with trends in the country'. Ambitious 'imports' include zebras and giraffes.

"Byculla Zoo is undertaking its first-ever major revamp and most comprehensive since its inception in 1862", Additional Municipal Commissioer of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, RA Rajeev said.

"Two workshops have been conducted, and the plans have been cleared in concept by the Central Zoo Authority", he said

"We will enhance the zoo's habitants with more animals from Australia, New Zealand and Africa and Asia", Rajeev said.

"In fact the zoo is being restructured continentally, in the first such layout of any zoo in the country".

The 52-acre plot handed over to BMC in 1873, will be regraphed continent-wise with efforts to locate the animals in surroundings close to their natural habitats", he said.

Also the zoo's topography which at present resembles a game reserve will receive a 'beautification treatment' with the placement of a water body in the centre, better cages, educative mapping and varied flora.

Meanwhile, zoo officials say, "the idea is to better sensitise people to our four and two legged friends... we want it to be an interactive process, of education and better awareness, of harmony and inner peace".

Over the past two weeks, representatives of Bangkok-based HKS Designers and Consultants International Co Ltd and US-based landscape designers Portico Group had been sending proposals to the BMC for their approval.

"Now the master plan has been approved", Rajeev said. "It about a 100-crore project and will evolve as it goes along".

"Hopefully everything will be ready sooner, everything is progressing smoothly".

"Jimmy and her other lion and leopard friends, will have a larger space to prowl around in while other animals will have better cages and specially designed moats", Rajeev said.

"The zoo's lone rhino, 29-year-old Shiva will however be returned to the wild in Assam... people feel he is too lonely here. We will also loose a male elephant".

"However, several new species will be added and we will ensure it will be in keeping with the land requirements".

In crowded Mumbai, space is of the essence not just for people but animals too, zoo officials say "the toss between having enough space for all takes its toll".

VJBU is also a botanical park, with trees almost 200 years old and is a good two degrees cooler than outside its gates- a welcome relief for those wishing to stroll through.

"The Bhau Daji Lad Museum, renovated recently as part of the educative efforts, is awaiting inauguration... we wish it to be at the hands of the Prime Minister", Rajeev said.

Another unique feature of the new plan "will be the two-tiered system of ticketing... with those willing to pay more being allowed to enter 'zone two' which will have more exotic breeds", he said.

The zoo now has 208 animals including deer, reptiles, and six emus. The magnificent 400-strong bird fraternity include peacocks, black swans, pelicans, egrets, military macaus and Japanese stalks.

Meantime, as the zoo official completed his afternoon rounds, a proud pelican extended his neck, and looked back squarely as if to say 'we are ready.... brings on the works!'.