Animal rights activist in New York to protest outside Indian Embassy against the introduction of Humboldt penguins at Byculla zoo next week
Even as Mumbai activists are in a flap about BMC’s plan to bring Humboldt penguins to Byculla Zoo, these animal lovers have now found support all the way from New York.
Despite opposition from animal lovers, six Humboldt penguins are scheduled to arrive at Byculla Zoo next week. Pic for representation/AFP
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Indian expat and animal rights activist Neetu Jindal has decided to highlight the issue by gathering like-minded people and protesting outside the Indian Embassy in New York in the coming weeks. “The idea is to make the BMC understand that there is international concern about the matter. We object to raising any animal in captivity in the first place, let alone keeping penguins in a tropical country. I have been mustering support for the cause over the past few days, towards which friends and relatives have expressed solidarity,” said Jindal. The protest is likely to take place in the first week of August.
Neetu Jindal, animal rights activist
Reality check
Meanwhile, local activists have clarified that they not only condemn the introduction of penguins at Byculla zoo, but are against the idea of displaying exotic or local animals in captivity. When asked why they weren’t demanding the release of other animals at the zoo, Anand Siva said, “Those animals have lived in captivity for too long. They might not survive in the wild.”
When it was pointed out that even the penguins were probably bred in captivity, he countered that penguins aren’t made for a tropical country with perpetual water shortage.
Jindal and Siva termed the introduction of penguins a waste of public money, water, electricity and resources. They stated that the penguin enclosures will require 2.4 million litres of water, which is a criminal waste, considering the year-long water cut the city experienced until Wednesday. Also, a lot of electricity will be consumed by the air-conditioners for maintaining the optimum temperature inside the penguin enclosure.
Siva further added that he would be opposing the induction of animals like otters and jackals to the zoo in the near future, for which tenders have already been floated. “Today it is the penguins, tomorrow it could be something else. Sena wanted to build a Snow Park in Mumbai. Then they will try bringing in snow leopards. I will go on a hunger strike the day that happens,” he said.
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