(Known as Byculla Zoo, run by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation)

By 

P.A.W.S. (Plant & Animals Welfare Society, Thane)

 INPECTION REPORT ON MUMBAI ZOO

(Known as Byculla Zoo, run by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation)

By

P.A.W.S. (Plant & Animals Welfare Society, Thane)

Address of the Zoo:

Veer Jijamata Udyan,
Byculla,
Mumbai.
Maharashtra. 

Names & Designations of the Persons visiting the ZOO: 

1. Ms. Anuradha Ramaswamy – Founder Trustee & Treasurer, PAWS

Hony. Animal Welfare Officer, AWBI 

2. Mr. Vishal Kantharia – Volunteer PAWS (A Reptile expert)

3. Ms. Anahita Kumar  - Volunteer PAWS

4. Mr. Kishor Savle – Rescue Staff PAWS

         Hony. Animal Welfare Officer, AWBI 

Day, Date and Time of Visit

Saturday, 26^th August 2006, 1.00pm

Report Prepared & Compiled by,

Nilesh Bhanage – Animal Welfare Officer – Govt. of India

     – Gen. Secretary & Founder Trustee – PAWS

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Snakes

3. Elephants

4. Crocodiles & Alligators

5. Bear

6. Hyena

7. Aquatic Birds

8. Monkeys

9. Spotted Deer

10. Other Observations / Remarks

11. Suggested Rehabilitation and Up-keep Programme

Zoo owned by:

The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation.

Present Location of Zoo:
Near Byculla Rly. Station, Byculla East, Mumbai

Introduction

PAWS team decided to visit the Mumbai zoo on Saturday. Approximately over 250 animals & birds are presently kept confined in the zoo. There was no assistance, when we asked official permission to inspect the zoo. We decided to purchase tickets & visit the zoo as a visitor. Photographs of some animals were taken. 

The Major Points to be noted as follows:-

1. The rains were heavily pouring in, that was pathetic for some animals like deer as cages were open from top.
2. All most all enclosures are very unsafe for people as well as animals; anybody can feed the animals anything easily. The Zoo Guards were not bothered about it and behaving as Municipal worker then a real caretaker.
3. Some months back, few dear died due to unknown reason, I asked permission from the Animal Welfare Board but did not have any reply so unable to inspect the registration, breeding, Vaccination papers thoroughly.
4. Many cages found rusty & broken, which may hurt animals.
5. The Park is having huge garden, which is used by couples for XXXX.
6. The feeding was prohibited as mentioned on ticket, but people openly feeding the ducks, monkeys & even crocodiles.
7. People were banging the glass cases of the snake enclosures & literally teasing snakes.
8. Gutkha Pouches found in & near many cages.
9. All dear enclosures were overcrowded.
10. The shocking thing is all Monkey cages were rat infested. The rats & monkeys both deadly carriers of different diseases.
11. No water found in the ponds for black swans & even python.
12. This most stupid idea, which the zoo officials kept, bowls for drinking water to snakes. Thank to god they did not kept forks & spoon to have food.

                             Snakes

1. No food was given to snakes during the day.
2. People teasing snakes openly.
3. Visitors were trying to break the glass of snake chamber.
4. Young wild caught baby cobra found in the park, the question arises about capturing of the animal without permission of Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
5. The drinking water was kept in small bowl but only in one enclosure.
6. The temperature was NOT maintained for different species of snakes.
7. Some snake hooks, boxes were found in cages which may harm the reptiles.
8. The size of snake enclosures was too small for movement & looked like kept exhibition.
9. The ground was hard & made of cement.

Elephants

1. There are 3 elephants in the zoo presently.
2. The health condition of the elephants is very poor; they have got several injuries on their bodies.
3. The history of the elephants, they brought wild captured & taken away from mother.
4. The back side of the elephant enclosures was not safe, anyone can enter in the tent.
5. One of the Mahout got hurt when the Male Elephant came in ‘must’ condition.
6. The other mahout was washing his own cloths in the elephant enclosure. The soap was mixed in the water.
7. The uneducated zoo officials tried to mate male elephant with female elephant in last month, the male elephant is around 20 yr. old & female elephant are around 50 yr. old, the male elephant injured both females while unsuccessful mating, both females collapsed & several leg injured occurred. This is an height of Uncaring, insufficient education in zoo up-keeping when they tried to mate young elephant with old female elephants.
8. In past 2 elephants were gifted to Japan by this Zoo.
9. All the elephants were tied on front & back leashes during day time. The keeper told us that they are left openly generally.
10. All the elephants were developed pigmentation on their ears, neck & body,
11. Mahouts confirmed the elephants eat mud along with regular food, due to this they developed stomach disease.
12. They Oil massage was not regular & only on head.
13. The mahouts got negative influence & dominance, command on elephants which may harm the mahouts in future.
14. No vaccination is provided to the elephants throughout the year.
15. All the three Elephants were banging the head towards upwards continuously, it means they developed Boredom.
16. The elephant enclosure was very unhygienic & dung was spreaded everywhere.
17. There is no seasonal change in the food of the elephant.

 Wounded Leg of Female Elephant   

Crocodiles & Alligators

1. All the crocodiles were together, 2 of them fighting for food.
2. The water level in crocodile pond was too less.
3. The crocodile / Ghadiyal were kept along with sambar in same enclosure.
4. People were throwing stones, dust, leaves inside the crocodile’s pond.
5. Empty Gutkha pouches were thrown in the enclosures.
6. The pond water was too stagnant & not cleaned from ages.

Bears

1. There was only one bear in the park.
2. The bear was uncomfortable in current enclosure.
3. There was no food & water inside.
4. People were teasing the bear.

Hyenas

1. There was only one hyena.
2. There was no food & water kept for him

Aquatic Birds 

1. All the birds were starving & desperately waiting for the food.
2. The bird enclosure was fully crowded with atleast fifteen species of the birds with approximately 70 birds confined.
3. The water level in the pond was low, ducklings were not able even swim.
4. The duck were fighting for food with Pelicans, Cranes & Sauras.
5. The birds were fighting for space in groups.

Monkeys

1. There were only 3 rhesus monkeys in one cage.
2. The cagas were fully rat infested.
3. The rat was eating all the food given to the monkeys.
4. Due lake of calcium all the monkeys were suffering from skin disorder.
5. There was no Type, toys, rope & mirror for exercise.
6. There was no water kept in monkey shelter.

Barking Deer / Sambar / spotted deer 

1. There 2 pairs for barking dear out of which one pair kept with male Nilgai.
2. Dear enclosure was crowded.
3. Male nilgai was separated from females.
4. Metal scrap was lying in sambar cages.
5. The stagnant water kept for drinking.
6. The enclosures were very small for the movement.
7. Visitors were throwing food to animals & also to attract animal’s attention, they are throwing wood particles, stones.

Other Observations

1. The Rhino is full with body injures, the flies were sitting on the injuries, which was making him irritated & he was running abnormally. The rhino doesn’t have mate, his horn was cutted.
2. The 3 hippo’s were kept in different cages.
3. Lion & Lioness cages were different & separated.
4. No water found in Python cages.
5. There are no proper feeding facilities for the animals. It seems that the animal are given water / food as per the keepers schedule, that is why they have no free access to water at their will during the day of night.
6. 24hrs Vety. Facility was not there.

Suggested Enhancement

1. The overall zoo condition is poor, so there are no chances of improvement at all.
2. Zoo should have a committee Dist. Vet, representative of NGO’s, AWBI’s Animal Welfare Officers & local humanitarians who can give surprise visit any time during the day or night.
3. At the outset we ask the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to close down the zoo & Tran locate all the animals, birds & Reptiles to rehabilitation center. Transform later zoo into huge garden.