Flashback 2016: Sinking like a stone

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) bought eight Humboldt penguins to the Byculla zoo at the cost of Rs 2 crore in July this year, from South Korea, as part of a Rs 150-crore revamp of the zoo. However, the project attracted a lot of flak after the death of Dory the penguin in October this year. Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray was particularly targeted, as many believed bringing in the penguins was his idea.

Dory, who was 1.5 years old, died of septicaemia on October 23. Following this, the BMC discovered that the contractor in charge of constructing the penguin exhibits — Highway Constructions — had forged several documents to portray expertise in handling exotic aquaculture. Ever since, the BMC has exerted extra caution while dealing with the remaining seven penguins.

The senior civic official said, “Construction of penguin exhibits has taken longer as three acrylic glass panels for the exhibit area are yet to arrive. It will take about 10 days to put the panels in place. Chillers for temperature control will be fitted in the exhibit area with other equipment. We will then sanitise the area, have trial runs to ensure penguins do not panic in a new environment, and then open it to the public.”  

The BMC has spent a total of '8 crore on constructing the exhibit for the birds that includes a life support system, a kitchen, feeding area and chillers. Meanwhile, after missing two deadlines in November and December for setting up penguins’ exhibits at the zoo, the BMC may be able to set up the exhibits only by mid-February.

Confirming this, a senior BMC official said the 4,000-sq ft penguin exhibit at the zoo will be ready by February, and the penguins will be moved into them for viewing by February 15. As a bonus for Mumbaikars, the first month of viewing the penguins will be free of charge. On the other hand, fazed by the death of Dory, the BMC has indefinitely postponed its plan to start a marine aquarium and bring in other exotic animals like leopard, Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, sloth bear, jackal, blackbuck, and nilgai.

Sorry tale:

• July 27: Eight Humboldt penguins arrive at Byculla zoo
• October 23: Dora, one and a half years old, dies in the zoo. BMC is criticised, with Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray targeted, as many believe the idea to buy the penguins was his idea
• November end:  First deadline to put the penguins on display
• December end: Second deadline to put the penguins on display
• February 15:  New estimate of when work of construction of penguin enclosures can be completed to put the penguins on display
• The BMC has now indefinitely postponed its plan to bring other animals to the zoo, such as blackbuck, nilgai and leopard