Inspection Report on Mumbai Zoo- By PAWS

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, 26th 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 Upkeep 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 ho oks, 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 mal e 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 upwar ds
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.

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.

Bear

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.

Hyena
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 at least 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.

Monekys
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 excersize.
6. There was no water kept in monkey shelter.

Barking Deer / Sambar / spotted deer

1. There 2 pairs for barking deer out of which one pair kept with male
Neelgai.
2. Deer enclosure was crowded.
3. Male neelgai 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