India’s tallest and biggest aviary opens in Mumbai

Mumbai is now home to country’s tallest and biggest aviary. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated the aviary, as part of the Republic Day festivities yesterday. This is the country's first ‘walk-through’ aviary that has been built at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo at Byculla in Mumbai.

This new attraction is spread across an area of 18200 sq ft and is 44 ft tall, which means that the aviary is as high as a five-storeyed building. Latest reports suggest that the aviary will house more than 100 species of exotic, rare, and common birds, living in their natural environs. Also, there will be separate enclosures for aquatic birds. As per a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official, more birds will be added gradually. The aviary has a walkthrough bridge that will allow visitors to view birds up close and personal, and will also provide them with a unique experience. There will be 17 special enclosures for animals too, such as hyenas, foxes, bears, leopards, Barasingha, Madras Pond Turtles, antelopes, and many more. Proper sections have also been commissioned for tigers and Asiatic lions. These enclosures will be ready by June, as per the sources.

Thackery also launched the first of 64 afforestation projects by the Miyawaki method at Bhakti Park that is spread across a 2.5 ac plot in Wadala. As per this method, maximum plants are planted in a minimum area to increase the biodiversity and the city’s green cover. This method will further be implemented at 64 locations with 40 types of local and other trees to create lush forests amid the city’s concrete surrounding.