The city's beloved zoo sees many young and old Mumbaikars throng its gates to see different kinds of animals and learn more about them. As it turns a year older, here are some interesting facts about it
Updated On: 2025-11-19 01:32 PM IST
Compiled by : Nascimento Pinto
While the city zoo is synonymous with names like Mumbai Zoo and Byculla Zoo, it has been called many different names over the years. However, it was originally named Victoria Gardens, popularly named after Queen Victoria, as other structures in our city including Victoria Terminus or VT, today known as CSMT railway station
The space was opened as a botanical garden, and is also known as Mumbai's oldest garden. It was inaugurated on November 19 in 1862 by Lady Catherine Frere, the wife of Sir Bartle Frere, Bombay's governor at the time
While it started out as a garden, it was extended to include the zoo after about 30 years, and after India's independence was renamed Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, after the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the revered Maratha king
Most recently in 2022, the Byculla Zoo has been renamed Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Vanaspati Udyan va Pranisangrahalaya to include its botanical history
The zoo premises also houses Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, formerly known as The Victoria and Albert Museum, which is also the city's oldest museum
