Mumbai News: BJP Leader Demands Marathi Names For Penguin Chicks Born At Byculla Zoo; BMC Response Awaited

Mumbai: The birth of three penguin chicks at Mumbai’s Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo has sparked an unexpected row not over their care, but their names. BJP functionary Nitin Bankar from the Byculla Assembly constituency has objected to the chicks being given English names, insisting they be named in Marathi instead. The BMC is expected to respond by June 10, after which Bankar will decide his next move.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Bankar said, “When penguins were brought from abroad, we accepted that their names would be in English. But these chicks were born on the soil of Maharashtra they deserve Marathi names.”

He added that the demand ties in with the state’s ongoing efforts to secure classical language status for Marathi. Bankar also claimed that during a meeting with zoo officials, they had assured him that penguin chicks born in the future would be given Marathi names. “The officials said they would send their reply by June 10. Let them give it in writing only then will we decide the next course of action,” he said.

However, zoo sources clarified, “Since the names of the penguins have already been sent to the Central Zoo Authority in Delhi for registration, no changes can be made now. Names for chicks born in the future can be given in Marathi.”

Continuing a tradition that began with the first batch of penguins from South Korea in 2016, the zoo named the new arrivals after popular English cartoon characters. The first pair, Popeye and Olive, welcomed their chick Noddy on March 3. The second pair, Daisy and Donald, had Tom on March 7 and Pingu on March 11.

With these births, the zoo’s penguin population has grown to 21. To accommodate the growing colony, the zoo is also expanding the penguin enclosure by 400 sq. ft., adding to the existing 1,800 sq. ft. space. Once complete, the upgraded habitat will be able to house up to 40 penguins.