8 Humboldt penguins from Seoul to set foot in Byculla Zoo today

THE PENGUINS WILL BE PUT IN A SPECIALLY DESIGNED SECLUDED PLACE FOR MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS TO ACCLIMATISE THEMSELVES WITH THE CHANGE OF LOCATION

MUMBAI: Despite the ongoing protest by animal activists against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC), the civic body will bring in eight Humboldt Penguins in the city on Tuesday.

The birds are being brought from Seoul in South Korea to Byculla Zoo at the cost of Rs 2.57 crore. Zoo authorities confirmed that the penguins will arrive at Mumbai International airport on Tuesday around 3am.

Visitors to the city zoo will not be able to see the birds before November as work on the enclosure for the penguins has not been completed yet. This is first time in India that penguins will be exhibited at a zoo, said civic officials.

Officials said once they arrive in Mumbai, the penguins will be put in a specially designed secluded place for minimum of three months to acclimatise themselves with the change of location.

While the quarantine will be of 250 square foot, the exhibits will be spread in 1550 square foot area. The temporary structure will be a replica of the enclosure that will house the penguins later this year.

The zoo authority will be trained for the next three months in handling the penguins.

Sudhir Naik, deputy munici pal commissioner, in charge of this project, said, “The penguins will be kept in a secluded area where they will not come in con tact with any one.”

Last Saturday, animal activ ists had staged a protest outside Byculla Zoo to raise their voices against the decision to bring penguins to the zoo because according to them, it will be an artificial habitat for the birds.