Mumbai Zoo Mumbai Zoo news

Mbwamwitu said:
Mr Molt, who lost chick, is back on his feet and molting - Times of India

Context: Mumbai Zoo has been trying to get going with an ambitious renovation plan that includes bringing in a ton of African, South American and Australasian species. It was always going to be an uphill task since we could barely maintain our existing, mostly Indian stock. The zoo's generally in shambles. Most of us who want to see it become a functional, successful facility didn't welcome the decision to start with Humboldt penguins... but here we are.

So, the penguins bred in August. Chick was born on Indian independence day. Died a couple days later. This article is about the father.

Personally, I'd rather see the zoo focus on improving its existing facilities, and then bringing in more Indian species to replace those that have been lost due to mismanagement and horrible exhibits in the past. Then, maybe we can consider some African species to boost attendance. Not sure what the best course of action is on the penguins. Has anyone here followed this at all?
Click to expand...

To what extent is Mumbai Zoo dependent on revenue as opposed to government funding?
And what is the appetite among urban-dwelling Indians to see Indian wildlife? Those seem to be pertinent questions here.
 
FunkyGibbon said:
To what extent is Mumbai Zoo dependent on revenue as opposed to government funding?
And what is the appetite among urban-dwelling Indians to see Indian wildlife? Those seem to be pertinent questions here.
Click to expand...

Government funding, for the most part. All the big redevelopments are funded by the municipal body for Mumbai. But I think part of their plan is to increase the contribution of visitor revenues to the budget, including through the creation of a tiered ticketing system wherein some of the more premium (presumably exotic) exhibit areas would require an additional fee.

Second question is trickier and, ofc, subjective. Urban Indians are visiting the national parks in record numbers, and our wildlife tourism is almost entirely sustained by domestic demand, but I'll admit that the focus there is disproportionately on the big cats. Still, I think with a little interesting exhibit design, marketing, etc. there could be interest in local species. I have more thoughts on this and will come back with them!
 
Birth of 3 Humboldt Penguins.
MumbaiInLast24Hrs on Instagram: "Mumbai's Byculla Zoo has three new, fluffy residents—baby Humboldt penguins named Tom, Noddy, and Pingu. Their arrival has brought the zoo’s penguin population to 21, marking a cheerful moment for the staff and wildlife lovers across the city. The first to hatch was Noddy on March 4, born to Olive and Poppy. Shortly after, Daisy and Donald became parents to Tom on March 7, followed by Pingu on March 11. The zoo announced their birth on April 25, aligning perfectly with World Penguin Day. Though officially part of the zoo's animal family, the chicks mostly remain in their nesting areas and are rarely visible to visitors. Caretakers noted that the penguin parents are currently feeding the young ones by pre-chewing food and passing it on—just as they would in the wild. This is the first time in over a year that the zoo has seen new penguin hatchlings. Last year, three others—Coco, Stella, and Jerry—were welcomed as part of a successful breeding program. While the growing population is a sign of success, zoo officials have acknowledged concerns about space and maintenance. There are ongoing discussions about exchanging some penguins with other animals, though no decisions have been made yet. The baby penguins, affectionately called the zoo’s “tiny waddlers,” are reported to be healthy and thriving under the care of their parents and staff."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top