Two blackbucks have arrived at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo in Mumbai on April 3. They were brought from the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Pune. However, the animals are not open for public viewing yet.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said both blackbucks are in quarantine. This is done to check for any diseases and help the animals adjust to their new home. They will be shown to visitors only after doctors give clearance.
The Byculla Zoo earlier had more than 40 blackbucks. But no new ones were added during renovations, and many died due to age. Right now, the zoo has no blackbucks. Blackbucks are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. They belong to the antelope family and usually live in groups of 10 to 30.
As per reports, getting blackbucks from another zoo is rare. Zoos often follow a barter system to exchange animals. The Byculla Zoo tried to offer penguins in return, but no deal worked out.
The number of visitors to the zoo has been falling. It had 30.16 lakh visitors in 2023. The number dropped to 24.16 lakh in 2024. Officials said the drop is due to the lack of new animals.
Despite fewer visitors, the zoo earned about INR 11.5 crore in 2023–2024. The Byculla Zoo was built in 1861 as a botanical garden. Now it houses about 335 animals. These include penguins, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, birds, reptiles, monkeys, elephants, and deer.
Records from September 2024 show the zoo had 78 mammals from 11 species. It also had 257 birds from 15 species and 21 reptiles from 6 species. Some enclosures for animals like lions and otters are still empty.
The BMC had planned to expand the zoo by 10 acres. The total area would increase from 53 acres to 63 acres. But the project faced problems due to issues in the bidding process for animal enclosures.
There were reports of irregularities and cartel behaviour during tendering. Because of this, the BMC is now hiring a consultant. The consultant will prepare designs and cost estimates for new enclosures. The bidding process is likely to begin in the next 1.5 months.
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