Mysuru zoo team visits Rani Baug penguin enclosure, exchange of animals under consideration

The Humboldt penguins of Rani Baug, the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo at Byculla, may in future be seen at the zoo in Mysuru as well. The possibility is being discussed. A delegation from Karnataka's Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (Mysuru zoo) visited Rani Baug recently.

The delegation included engineers, veterinary officers and animal keepers. The team saw the penguins' enclosure, learned how they are looked after and how the whole operation is managed. It sought information on how a suitable environment is created for the penguins, how their health is monitored and how their enclosure is maintained.

Along with bringing Humboldt penguins to the Mysuru zoo, the possibility of building an aquarium is also under consideration.

A senior municipal corporation official said the visit took place about a month ago. According to the official, no formal proposal has so far been received from the Mysuru zoo. The matter is thus still at the stage of gathering information.

Rani Baug is the only zoo in the country that houses Humboldt penguins. Eight Humboldt penguins were brought here from South Africa in 2017. One of them died at that time, leaving seven in the enclosure. Later, breeding among the pairs increased their number to 25 over the past six years.

If a proposal to exchange animals between the Mumbai and Mysuru zoos is finalised, it will be the first time in Rani Baug's history that its penguins are sent to another zoo.

In return, species not currently at Rani Baug could be brought to Mumbai from Mysuru. These are said to possibly include animals such as zebras and giraffes. This is only conjecture for now, since no proposal has yet arrived and any further decision depends on it.