A significant redevelopment plan for Mumbai’s Veermata Jijabai Bhonsale Udyan was reported to be underway, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s tender issuance marking the formal beginning of an ambitious upgrade to the zoo’s exotic zone. It was indicated that a 10-acre expanse was being reserved for the new facility, where 18 exotic species were expected to be housed. Among the animals anticipated to be included in the collection were white lions, cheetahs, lemurs, zebras, and giant anteaters, signalling a notable expansion of the zoo’s biodiversity portfolio.
It was explained that 18 new enclosures were planned to be constructed over a three-year period at an estimated cost of ₹4.98 crore. These structures were described as being designed with three components: a viewing area equipped with acrylic panels, a paddock intended to imitate natural terrains, and a secluded space where resting and feeding activities would be carried out. It was further mentioned that while the zone would form part of the larger zoo campus, entry would be enabled through a separate ticket system. The project timeline was reported to have been finalised, with work expected to commence by mid-January. Approval from the Central Zoo Authority was stated to have been granted, and the process of procuring animals was said to be planned for the near future.
Alongside this project, a major avian initiative was reported from Nahur Village, where a large aviary was being prepared through a contract awarded to Dev and DB Consortium. The ₹146-crore facility was described as being modelled on an aviary in Singapore and was projected to house more than 206 species of exotic, regional, and endangered birds. This development was positioned as a significant step in expanding the zoo’s conservation capabilities.
However, infrastructural progress was accompanied by sombre news. It was revealed that two tigers had died at the zoo within a span of two months. A nine-and-a-half-year-old Royal Bengal tiger named Shakti was reported to have died on November 17 due to respiratory failure caused by pneumonia. It later emerged that a three-year-old tiger cub, Rudra, had also died on October 29. According to officials, the cub had been undergoing prolonged medical treatment and was not exhibited to visitors, due to which a public announcement was not made. It was stated that mandatory notifications had been submitted to the Central Zoo Authority and the state government immediately after both incidents, in line with protocol.