After 12-Year Wait, Mayor Ritu Tawde Revives Bid To Bring Asiatic Lions Back To Mumbai's Byculla Zoo

Mumbai: After more than a decade of waiting and repeated failed attempts by the BMC, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has taken the initiative, requesting Asiatic lions from the Gujarat administration for the Byculla Zoo, which has been without a lion since 2014. The zoo lost its last resident, a 16-year-old African-Asiatic hybrid named Jimmy, after a prolonged illness.

Jimmy: The Last Lion of Byculla

Born at Byculla Zoo in 1998 to African lion Amar and Asiatic lioness Anita, Jimmy was the zoo’s last lion and a major attraction for visitors. A few years ago, civic authorities proposed acquiring two pairs of lions from Junagadh and Indore zoos under an exchange programme, offering zebras in return. The zoo also approached the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Gujarat, to request a pair of Asiatic lions, but all BMC attempts failed.

Now, Mayor Tawde has confirmed she has written to the Gujarat zoo administration to initiate the process of sending Asiatic lions to Byculla. Currently, the zoo houses 15 penguins, 84 species of mammals and over 157 bird species. As part of the Mumbai Zoo expansion programme, the administration plans to acquire exotic animals from Australia, America, and Africa, with dedicated enclosures under construction.

₹136 Crore for Expansion

The BMC’s budget for 2026-27 allocates Rs 136 crore for infrastructure expansion. Byculla Zoo records an annual footfall of 31 lakh visitors, peaking on weekends, with penguins and tigers being among the biggest crowd pullers.

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