Zoo provides perfect respite to Mumbaikars

By Ruchi Verma

As Mumbai gears up for the second phase of the vaccination drive, more city dwellers are looking to venture out in open spaces after staying indoors for almost an year. Although, even today, many regular meeting joints and avenues for outdoor activities remain shut, the few that have resumed operations are becoming increasingly popular with Mumbaikars.

COVID-SAFE: Mumbai Zoo is offering the perfect solution for outdoor yet safe recreation

Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo, also known as Byculla Zoo, opened its gates to the public on 15 February 2021, after being shut for almost an year. Ever popular among families with young children, today people from all walks of life and age groups are known to flock to the zoo. Owing to availability of open spaces, gardens and it being centrally located in the city, the Byculla Zoo has become a visitors’ paradise in post-COVID Mumbai.

"The trees, gardens and ample open space within the zoo make it a COVID-friendly space for leisure and recreation. I have already visited the zoo twice in the past two weeks since it reopened. At the moment, it happens to be a very safe and economical option for children as well as adults," offers Dadar-based homemaker Shailja Patil.

BOLT FOR FUN: The Humboldt penguins are a big hit with the visitors

On Day One, the zoo registered 1,419 footfalls generating a revenue of Rs 69,600 and on the first weekend after reopening, the zoo collected a revenue of Rs 5.74 lakh with 11,000 visitors. 

The biggest hits among the visitors have been the two royal Bengal tigers Shakti and Karishma brought from Siddharth Garden and Zoo in Aurangabad in February 2020 and the Humboldt penguins. The zoo's plan to keep the two tigers in a 3,500 sq mt enclosure with a terrain similar to that of Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park open for public viewing could not materialise then due to the national lockdown. The last tiger in Byculla Zoo had died in 2006.

Mangal Bhange

BMC Security Guard Mangal Bhange has been in service at the zoo for six years now. The Kalyan-based mother of two says, "There is a lot of enthusiasm in the public, more so now following a year of staying indoors due to COVID-19. I have not been able to bring my children to the zoo to view the newest members - the tigers and penguins. I plan to bring them soon."

Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar also inaugurated the social media pages of Byculla Zoo on 16 February 2021 that include dedicated handles of Mumbai Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. According to the Zoo Director Dr Sanjay Tripathi, "The plan is to upload daily activities of animals and educational material about the zoo and the wildlife inside."

(Note: Some subjects may have removed their masks only to be identified in photographs to be used with this news report. COVID-19 appropriate behaviour has been maintained at all times)

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