Donate Asiatic lions, nothing in exchange to offer: Zoo tells Guj | Mumbai News

Mumbai: For the first time, the city zoo has written to the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Gujarat, requesting a pair of Asiatic lions as donation. The zoo authorities have specified that currently they do not have any animal to offer in exchange, and are seeking lions on a “goodwill basis”.
The zoo has been without a lion since 2014, when its last lion, the 16-year-old Jimmy, passed away.

Since then, efforts have been underway to bring in an Asian-breed lion.
The recent communication marks the city zoo’s first with the PCCF, following unsuccessful attempts in the past to procure lions from the Sakkarbaug Zoological Park in Junagadh.
“With BMC chief and CM Devendra Fadnavis briefed on the matter, we hope to get positive outcome this time,” a Byculla zoo official said.
The Byculla zoo recorded a dip in footfall and revenue in 2024 as compared to previous two years. Visitor numbers in 2024 dropped to 24.16 lakh, generating ticket revenue of Rs 9.49 crore—a nearly 25% decline from 2023.