After penguins, Mumbai zoo to bring in leopard

Unfazed by the current brouhaha over the death of penguin Dory on October 23, Mumbai

zoo

authorities are set to go ahead with the plans to introduce the other seven

penguins

for public display on November 30. Several city-based activists wanted the remaining birds to be sent back to Seoul from where they were brought. An international welfare group had also recently written a letter to a well-known body that protects endangered plants and animals. But

Byculla

zoo director, Sanjay Tripathi, affirms that plans are on and that the birds are alive and well. “We have received no order to send the birds back, so yes, we will go ahead with the exhibit. So far the date is 30th, but it may be earlier too. The penguins’ exhibit enclosure is getting finishing touches. The birds are fine, they are feeding well and we look forward to Mumbaikars seeing them.”
Meanwhile, plans on for other animals We have learnt that the zoo has plans to bring in another animal. This time, it’s a leopard — part of a list of animals to be procured once the zoo revamp work is done. Says Tripathi, “The leopard is to be brought from

Sanjay Gandhi National Park

. It’s a common leopard and will be a young animal. We want to complete construction of all 10 enclosures for the different animals — a jackal, hyena, and sloth bear and the leopard is one of the animals on that list.”

The ambitious revamp plans involve bringing down a host of other animals to the zoo, as well and on Tuesday, the BMC floated tenders for the construction of their exhibits. There are special plans for an ‘African Savannah’, too. “This will be a themed area with African animals —that may either be imported from other Indians zoos in exchange or procured from abroad. The reptile house (which is in phase 1) tender has also been floated. The reptile house (in phase 1) tender has also been floated,” he informs.

ANIMALS TO BE BROUGHT IN — PHASE 1Sloth bear, leopard, jackal, otter, Madras pond turtle and wolf.
COST: Roughly `62.97 crore

ANIMALS TO BE BROUGHT IN — PHASE 2Tiger, lion, nilgai, barking deer, four-horned antelope, black buck.
COST: Roughly `57.63 crore



Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.