The death of a tiger named Shakti at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run Byculla Zoo has come to light. Although he died on November 17, the zoo administration allegedly concealed the information. Sources claim the tiger died due to a sudden epileptic seizure.
Shakti, who was brought to the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Zoo and Botanical Garden in Byculla a few years ago, died on November 17. The zoo informed the Central Zoo Authority and the Maharashtra State Zoo Authority via email on November 18, 2025. However, tiger enthusiast Prathamesh Jagtap, personal assistant to local MLA Ajay Chaudhary, publicly revealed the news and accused the zoo of hiding the incident.
Jagtap alleged that Shakti died due to negligence by the zoo administration and the veterinary officer. He questioned why the zoo failed to announce the tiger's death, pointing out that forest departments publicly disclose such incidents in tiger reserves. MLA Ajay Chaudhary demanded a thorough probe and action against those responsible.
According to Jagtap, a bone had become lodged near the tiger’s respiratory tract, leading to his death. He raised concerns over why timely treatment was not provided and why the cause of death was kept under wraps. He also questioned why Shakti’s body was disposed of before the autopsy report was received. Jagtap has called for a detailed investigation by the Maharashtra Forest Minister and the Maharashtra State Zoological Park Authority.
He further stated that the death of even one tiger due to lack of treatment is a serious issue, especially when governments spend large sums on tiger conservation.
Zoo officials, however, said that Shakti had shown no prior signs of illness and had been healthy for the past few months. “We have sent samples of Shakti’s organs to the Wildlife Research and Training Centre at Gorewada, Nagpur for further examination. We are awaiting their report,” they said.
Also Read: BMC Floats 26 Crore Tenders To Renovate Parks & Playgrounds Across Mumbai