Mumbai Zoo Gets Asiatic Lions After Decade-Long Wait

Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo in Byculla is poised to receive Asiatic lions, with the necessary approvals nearing completion. Mayor Ritu Tawde confirmed this development following a meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel. The Gujarat government is expected to issue an approval letter and a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the animal exchange between Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh and Byculla Zoo.

Under the agreement, Sakkarbaug Zoo will provide two male and two female Asiatic lions to Byculla Zoo. In return, Mumbai's zoo will transfer three pairs of tufted capuchin monkeys to Gujarat. This exchange has already received consent from both zoological institutions. Byculla Zoo has prepared a state-of-the-art enclosure for the lions, designed according to the Central Zoo Authority's master layout plan. The zoo has been without lions since 2014, following the death of Jimmy.