MUMBAI: Officials at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo said it was the first time that the revenue had crossed Rs. 1.5 crore for a month—in May. While adults are charged Rs 50, the entry fee for children is Rs 25. The facility is also largely visited by groups of students who are brought for school picnics.
This year, the zoo was shut for a brief period in January owing to the third wave of Covid. However, it was reopened in the second week of February as cases began to drop in the city.
Zoo director Dr Sanjay Tripathi told TOI that the swelling crowds has made them increase security on the premises. “Besides, we have civic security personnel moving around in civil clothes after cases of pickpocketing were reported. Our aim has always been to ensure that visitors have a good experience while visiting the zoo. Hence, we are constantly on our guard to make sure that no one is hassled in any way,” he said.
According to Tripathi, one of the enclosures that is a huge hit with visitors these days is the one that houses the Royal Bengal tiger pair of Shakti and Karishma. “People love to see underwater swimming by the two tigers,” he said.
Recently, the Byculla zoo was donated a pair of leopards by Gorewada zoo in Nagpur. One of the leopards has been named Arjun, while the other is still to be christened.
