Mumbai News: Maintenance Of Penguins Cost Byculla Zoo ₹25.83 Crore In 5 Years, Amounts To One-Fourth Of Total Upkeep Cost

Mumbai: The Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan in Byculla has spent Rs 25.83 crores in the last five years for the maintenance of penguins. While the total sum spent on upkeep of the zoo amounted to Rs 105.59 crores, the maintenance of penguins has cost the zoo authorities almost one fourth of the total upkeep cost.

The waddling Humboldt penguins are undoubtedly the biggest attraction at Mumbai’s Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, commonly known as Byculla Zoo. However, this attraction comes with a huge cost for the zoo authorities who spend crores of rupees every year on the maintenance of penguins.

According to the information furnished by the zoo director’s office to activist Godfrey Pimenta under the right to information (RTI) act, the zoo has spent Rs 105.59 crores in the last five years on the upkeep of the zoo.

While this includes multiple kinds of expenditures, a significant amount of Rs 25.83 crores has been spent for the maintenance of penguins. This results in almost one fourth of the total expenditure in the last five years.

The RTI data also revealed that the zoo authorities have spent Rs 31.20 crores on the maintenance of the gardens, Rs 27.11 crores on housekeeping and Rs 21.48 crores on comprehensive service maintenance contract, which covers maintenance of various facilities like life support system and electrical works, in the last five years.

Notably, Byculla Zoo has seen a steady growth of population of these waddlers, especially after the birth of three penguin chicks in April which took the total count up to 21. With the increasing population, the zoo authorities have also proposed exchanging penguins for other animals as part of their exchange programmes.

However, these birds have not attracted any buyers due to their expensive maintenance and care, raising worries about the diminishing space for them at the current facility.