Byculla zoo to expand over 10 acres; BMC plans to house ‘exotic animals’ from abroad – All you need to know

Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, also known as the Byculla Zoo is currently spread over 53 acres and extra 10 acres have already been procured for the third phase of expansion…

The civic-run Byculla Zoo in Mumbai is set to expand by 10 acres to house new enclosures for several exotic species of animals that will be brought to the facility in the next few years, officials said on Monday.

One of the city’s most patronised venues, officially called the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, is currently spread over 53 acres and the extra 10 acres have already been procured for the third phase of expansion, they added.

Over the weekend, the civic body had floated a tender worth Rs 95 crore for the construction of three animal enclosures in the extended area.

The recent reports suggest that the tender pertains to the construction of a space for exhibiting African savanna, an aviary for exotic birds and Emu, enclosure for hippopotamus, landscaping, installation of CCTV cameras, public amenities and other infrastructure works. 

Companies have been given three months to submit their bids. The work is likely to be completed in around two years from the day the contract is awarded, reported Indian Express.

In the Phase III of expansion plan, BMC plans to bring in giraffe, zebra, white lion, black jaguar, chimpanzee, oryx, cassowary, ostrich, okapi, ringtail lemur and cheetah from abroad. The civic body also plans construct enclosures over the extended 10-acre plot.

Under Phase II, the zoo will construct 17 animal enclosures in the existing 53-acre area.

Zoo director Dr Sanjay Tripathi told PTI that a tender had been floated for the expansion work that will see the construction of 15 enclosures to house animals like the giraffe, white lion, black jaguar, chimpanzee, ostrich, ringtail lemur and cheetah etc.

He said the Union government approved the expansion work in 2019.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials said work in the first two phases is expected to cost Rs 175 crore and tenders for its have already been floated.

Under these phases, a space for exhibiting African savanna will be built along with an aviary for exotic birds, as well as a hippopotamus enclosure, apart from landscaping, installation of CCTV cameras, public amenities etc.

Built in 1982, Byculla Zoo boasts more than 335 animals, birds and reptiles. It is home to monkeys, crocodiles, elephants, deer, hippopotamus, penguins and a surplus of exotic birds.

The zoo already has – 10 enclosures and exhibit areas, including a specialised underwater viewing facility for visitors to get a close look at the tiger pair.

Enclosures for leopards, sloth bears, hyenas, jackals, sambars, spotted deers, swamp deers, and Madras Pond Turtle have also been constructed. Additional enclosures for otters, Indian wolf, barking deer, Nilgai and four-horned antelopes are under construction.

Prior to the lockdown last year, a pair of Bengal tigers, striped hyenas, a jackal, a leopard and a sloth bear were brought to the zoo. In January 2020, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had also inaugurated a new aviary – housing over 100 species of birds.