In a not so pleasant piece of news for Mumbai’s animal lovers, 77 animals, birds and reptiles died at the city’s only zoo at Byculla over the past year. The zoo witnessed 70 animal deaths in 2015-16; 72 deaths in 2014-15; 40 deaths in 2013-14; 39 in 2012-13 and 34 in 2011-12. Apart from deaths owing to old age for mammals, bird species died of natural causes,” said Dr Sanjay Tripathi, Byculla zoo director. “The forest department, under the aegis of the state, is not responsible for matters related to the Byculla zoo as it is under the purview of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). We will ask for a detailed report from the Byculla zoo, listing out the cause of death of all animals in 2016-17, along with post-mortem reports,” said the official.

Source: Hindustan Times August 14, 2017 03:45 UTC