Wait to see penguins at Byculla zoo gets longer

Soon after deciding the dates to inaugurate the penguin project at the Byculla zoo, outgoing Mayor Snehal Ambekar has asked the civic chief to send back letter that mentions the inauguration date. Ambekar had written to the civic chief on Tuesday in order to make the required changes for public viewing that was slated to be held on March 6.

However, Ambekar has now asked Mehta to return the letter. According to sources in the civic body, the exhibition date will be postponed after Mayoral elections that will be held on March 8. According to the zoo officials, the seven Humboldt penguins are kept in temperature controlled atmosphere. The zoo authorities have built enclosures in order to maintain the temperature.

The procurement of eight Humboldt penguins, in July 2016, at the cost of Rs 2 crore received flak from activists and opposition parties after one of the eight penguins named Dory died at the Byculla zoo on October 23 last year.

Pravin Deolekar, Chembur resident said, “It would be interesting to get a glance of the penguins. However, the authorities are charging Rs 100 for a visit which is not worth.”

The cost of the project, which was earlier estimated at Rs 460 crore, was curtailed to Rs 150 crore which includes the makeover of the zoo like building an animal enclosure, a quarantine centre and a fully-equipped zoo hospital.

Although, the civic body has failed to complete the preparations before the deadline at the 53 acre zoo, the BMC's inability to house the penguins has led to more differences between the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena party.