Every city needs a few lions

Lions, National Geographic’s online resources say, require areas with reliable water sources, shade, and cover. None of these conditions match what the Byculla zoo offers. In pic, lions from Gir, Gujarat. Pic/istock

It has been a few decades since I visited the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo in Byculla. My first and last trip was managed by my school (in what feels like another life) and the idea of stopping by that beautiful venue has never crossed my mind in all the years since, presumably because it didn't make much of an impact on me. It's probably a great place, but I don't foresee purchasing a ticket to it any time soon. My opinion on zoos in general has also changed since I was a child, because I think that the idea of animals trapped for our viewing pleasure is morally repugnant, but that's just me. If that's what makes some people happy, who am I to judge?

The reason why that zoo popped into my mind this week, however, was a report about the city's new mayor formally requesting the Chief Minister of Gujarat to send across two pairs of Asiatic lions. I didn't know that the procurement of wild animals was part of the job but, then again, I have never been able to explain what the mayor does so it could well be an important duty. There are probably all kinds of tasks associated with the role, such as choosing what colours are to light up the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and for how long. It may sound as if I am being preposterous, but this is a city where lines between the absurd and official government policy can blur rather quickly.

Having said that, I was still surprised by the urgency of this specific request, given that the mayor was sworn in just a few weeks ago. I could only assume that the absence of lions in the zoo must have been a more important issue than most of us had realised. Perhaps the mayor was chosen precisely because of this emphasis on wildlife, because we never really know how a mayor is selected, do we? There's a lot of secrecy surrounding the decision, and all we can do is accept that there is no one better qualified to play this nominal role of First Citizen. I also believe that's how Indians traditionally accept all elected representatives in general, by making peace with the fact that criminal records aren't enough to disqualify someone from becoming Chief Minister or even Home Minister.

As for the lions, the request was also supposedly important because there have been years of delay in acquiring the animals for a newly constructed enclosure in the zoo. The empty space was disappointing visitors and ‘animal enthusiasts,' which explains why the mayor swung into action and made it a priority. I expect the focus to shift towards the city's human inhabitants once this issue has been resolved. First lions, then roads, followed by toilets and, at some point, better public hospitals?

The incident made me curious about lions in general, so I did a bit of research with the help of National Geographic's online resources. I found out that these magnificent animals tend to inhabit sub-Saharan Africa's savannas, grasslands, open woodlands, and scrublands, and prefer areas with sufficient cover for hunting. They also require areas with reliable water sources, shade, and cover. None of these conditions appeared to match what the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo offers, but I dismissed all doubts by telling myself that the BMC has always been better informed than zoologists, biologists, and environmentalists. It's why Bombay's residents don't need to worry about climate change. It also shows that the zoo presumably has reliable water sources, even if the rest of the city does not.

It sometimes bothers me that so much time and resources are diverted towards the zoo, but that is only because I forget how much money is generated by visitors. It is important for us all to keep in mind that anything capable of generating revenue for the government will always be a priority. The sooner we accept that, the happier we may be.

My hope is that the new mayor continues with these tasks that will undeniably make the city more livable than it already is. I also propose a project to introduce wild tigers at a later date. According to historical data, the last wild tigers in the Bombay area were recorded in the late 1920s. It's about time we start to see more of them in some of the greener parts of the city, like the Mahalaxmi Racecourse or Shivaji Park.

When he isn't ranting about all things Mumbai, Lindsay Pereira can be almost sweet. He can be contacted at www.lindsaypereira.com
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The views expressed in this column are the individual's and don't represent those of the paper.