Four years, two plans and several modifications later, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has finally given an in-principle approval to the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan (Byculla Zoo) makeover plan with a few minor changes.
“After a long wait, the CZA has given us a green signal. The suggested amendments are mostly technical and can easily be implemented. Now, we can begin the work of detailed enclosure design and road design,” said Anil Anjankar, director of the zoo.
The minor modifications proposed by the CZA include specifying the scientific names of civet cat species, removing otter from the cat group and shifting it near the porcupine enclosure where it would be part of a separate area showing ‘World of Water Animals’ and marking certain visitor paths in the new layout plan.
The design phase will include detailed designing of each enclosure keeping in mind the natural habitat of the animal, design of roads without changing their alignment, a disaster management plan, an education plan for the visitors, especially children, security plan and e-governance.
“We have approved the installation of about 25 CCTV cameras outside the enclosures and at the main entrance for security purposes and also to monitor some visitors who tease the animals,” said Anjankar. More cameras may be installed inside enclosures later to monitor the animals at night or when they are sick.
The process of procuring animals from Indian or foreign zoos will soon begin. “Procurement of Humboldt penguins will start soon, from either Thailand or Chile. After that, as and when the detailed enclosure design is ready and as per the vacant enclosures, we will procure the animals,” said Anjankar.