Mumbai
City Zoo, called the Veermata Jijamata Prani Sangrahalaya or Rani Baug in Queen
Victoria’s time. This place was earlier called Victoria Gardens and is very
close to Veermata Jijamata Museum also known as Bhau Daji Lad Sangrahalaya
earlier known as Victoria and Albert Museum. The zoo can be accessed from
Byculla Railway Station on the Central Railway Line. The zoo is at a distance
of 15 minutes that too walking from the station and is on the main road.
For
instructions on the zoo timings read the info on this photo.
I took a
entry ticket of Rs.5 in order to visit the zoo. No charge to taking camera
along for photography. I decided to take mine along to get a few photos of
animals in the zoo.
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| Zoo entry timings |
At the
entrance there is a security check and as always the security is very tight.
What I mean to say is that, I had a Swiss Knife in my pocket and it didn’t
detect the same and to top it I was not frisked at the entrance.
What’s the use
of the hi-tech security doors when they are not able to detect weapons?
But they
do check bags to see if there are any eatables in it, as we are not supposed to
feed the animals in the zoo. This is a good check, as there have been instances
where people end up feeding animals in the zoo and the animals get food poisoned
due to the food fed to them, as they are not able to digest them. Please try to
understand that the stomachs of the animals are designed differently than us
humans, that’s why they are animals and we are humans.
I then
took out my camera and started on my photo tour of the Zoo. It was afternoon
when I reached the zoo. Due to the winter the breeze was chilly so didn’t mind
the heat. Few visitors. Mostly they were people from outside Mumbai who had
come to see the Museum.
I saw a
few squirrels there running about in search of food. They were so quick and
fast that I had a tough time taking photos of them.
Walking
for a few seconds I located two elephants made of creepers. They were quite a
nice site to see. But I had come to see real elephants and not once made of
creepers, is what I said to myself.
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| Crocs |
The
Asiatic Lion was the first to see. I tried hard to locate the Lion in the cage,
but I couldn’t. Then I asked a few people who were gathered there, “Bhaisaheb,
Sherni dikaie di ki nahi” to which they replied “Nahi, Hum bhi Sherni ko hi
dhund rahe hai” Finally one of the guys spotted the Lion and he shouted “Woh
rahe Sherni.” I’ll narrate in English, I couldn’t see the Lioness so I asked
the other visitors if they are able to view to which they replied No, later one
of them saw the Lion.
The
Lioness was busy sleeping in the cage. Trees camouflaged her quite well I
should say. Any which ways she was very bored to stand up and pose for my
camera. I guessed they are used to dozens of people coming to view them every
day.
I then
moved on to see the elephants; they were far away but to get a glimpse of them.
They were a couple. We can’t get close to them so have to zoom in on our eyes
and camera to take a pic.
All over
the Zoo, there were instructions stating, Keep Silence, Do Not Feed or Tease Animals,
Do Not Cross the Railing, Do Not Litter. I guess people were adhering to these
instructions. This is a good thing.
Suddenly
I saw a huge crowd gathered around a surrounding. I joined the gang only to
spot two crocodiles resting in the hot sun in their surroundings. The crocs
were so still they for a minute I said to myself “Are they real”, no movements
at all. I was photographing them for 10 minutes and no movement in these 10
minutes. A few of the visitors should me another sitting in an enclosure
nearby.
I saw
monkeys a few meters away; they looked totally disinterested and sad. None of
them were jumping around. They sat quietly in the shade and watched the people pass
by. Hanuman Langur
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| No animals here |
I later
saw the Sambar, there were three of them, resting quietly in the shade, staring
faraway in the distance. I guess they must be missing the life they enjoyed in
the jungle, instead of here.
I then
moved on to see the Himalayan/ Asiatic Black Bear; I tried to locate the bear,
but couldn’t spot him. No crowd to see the bear either. Is there a bear in
there or just an enclosure? , Did the bear break free and run away from there?
Are the questions that came to my head? No one to answer my questions I walked
away to see the Hyena.
The
Hyena is guess was just fed by its caretaker and sent to its enclosure. It too
was sad to be there.
I saw a
few Back Bucks; I guess theirs is the only population which is increasing in
the zoo. They are hoarded together and were resting.
Same was
the scene with the Spotted Dear.
Hippos
were there two, a couple both in the water in the shade. I waited with a hope
that they would come out, finally my prayers were answered and they did come
out. They were huge like the one I see on Naat Geo Wild or Discovery Channel
and were cute like the one that features in Madagascar.
I headed
off to see the Rhino, The Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, but his horn was
missing. He was all sad has he had just lost his partner. So sorry for him. All
alone. He too I guess had grown old as he looked thin and skinny.
There
was an enclosure for the Blue Bell, but couldn’t locate the animal there.
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| Zoo entrance, built by the British |
Also
what I noticed is that most enclosures were under maintenance, so I am guessing
that these animals were moved to safer places for the waiting time.
The
trees here have been numbered, 2336 was the no. I located on one of the trees.
There
were a few birds too, but looking at the sad state of the animals I decided to
head off from there. The animals looked lost, they were home sick, missing the
jungle/ forest their home.
I think
that they should take the animals out of here and put them in the jungle where
they belong.
I then
headed off to see Bhau Daji Lad Sangrahalaya located next to the Zoo.
