Byculla Zoo to get croc selfie point to avoid crowding, vandalisation

Mumbai: As part of the first phase of the revamp of Jijamata Udyan, Byculla, a new selfie point will soon be inaugurated around 250 metre from the entrance, near the statues of Jijamata and Shivaji Maharaj.

The main attraction will be two 20 feet fibre-and-rubber crocodiles placed in a water body with a mushroom for shade.

The new location is to keep unruly visitors from crowding other important turns and points, considering that visitors have already vandalised other selfie points by plucking flowers from bushes and trying to cross railings.

Dr Sanjay Tripathi, director, Byculla Zoo, told The Asian Age, “The new selfie point is part of the first phase and as and when time passes, we will think of new selfie points that can be installed in the second phase of the revamp.”

Since opening of the Humboldt Penguin enclosure at Jijamata Udyan, the number of visitors has gradually increased.

The flip side however is that the number of cases where selfie point installations have been damaged has also gone up.

Officials said that they are very disappointed with rowdy visitors who damage selfie points which is why security officials have been posted at various points to make sure that people maintain decorum.

While the new selfie point will be opened in a week’s time, authorities are hoping it will not create chaos at existing points and visitors  will be more careful with installations used as selfie points.