In 2016, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had brought the Humboldt penguins in Veermata Jijabai Zoo (Rani Baug) from South Korea under the leadership of Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray, with an aim to draw more spectators.
However, authorities have planned to give the zoo a ₹200 crore facelift, where the funds will be allocated to add more exotic animals like wallabies, okapi, emu, cassowary, oryx, jaguar and white lions. The lions will be shifted from Junagadh zoo in Gujarat and a pair of leopards and jackals have been acquired from Mangalore zoo. Interestingly, one of the leopards is named Dragon which is inspired by the popular American Television series Game of Thrones.
Also Read: You're Going To Hear Me Roar! Mumbai Zoo To Add A Pair Of Lions.
The animals will be enclosed in glass facades to prevent the spectators from harming them. Besides this, animals will also be kept safe during the construction of two bird aviaries and ponds for turtles.
Notably, Veermata Jijabai zoo is the oldest public garden in Mumbai which is located at Byculla and is a house to over 843 species of animals which draws in over thousands of visitors. India's first Humboldt penguin was born on August 15, 2018, in the zoo and was therefore named as 'freedom baby'. It was a huge feat for scientists at the zoo but it unfortunately died on August 22, 2018, due to liver dysfunction and yolk sac retention- Newborn Humboldt Penguin Chick Dies After Seven Days Of Its Birth At Byculla Zoo
Also Read- Byculla Zoo Brings In Leopards And Jackals As Their Newest Members
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