The BMC will temporarily move Byculla Zoo’s Humboldt penguins from public display during June to August to expand their enclosure. The upgraded habitat will increase capacity from 25 to 40 birds, enhancing living conditions as part of the zoo’s aquarium expansion project
Mumbai’s Humboldt penguins remain one of the biggest attractions at the Byculla Zoo. File pic/Ashish Raje
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to temporarily move the penguins from public view during the off-season months of June, July, and August to facilitate the expansion of their existing enclosure and living space. The upgrade will increase the capacity of the facility to accommodate up to 40 penguins.
The current enclosure can house only up to 25 birds. At present, the Byculla Zoo has 21 Humboldt penguins, 14 of which were born in Mumbai over the past nine years. mid-day had first reported in July last year that the BMC was planning to provide the penguins with a larger habitat.
During the expansion of their existing 1800 sq-ft enclosure and display area, the penguins will be shifted to an adjacent enclosure. This facility was earlier used to quarantine the birds when they were first brought to Mumbai in 2016 and closely replicates their current living space.
The expansion is part of the ongoing construction of an aquarium at the Byculla Zoo, for which work has already begun. At the time the original penguin enclosure was built, space behind it had been reserved for future expansion projects.
Zoo’s revenue
Mumbai’s Humboldt penguins remain one of the biggest attractions at the Byculla Zoo. Over the past three financial years — from March 2023 to January 2026 — the BMC has earned Rs 28.1 crore in revenue from the zoo. Entry fees are Rs 50 for adults, Rs 25 for children, and Rs 100 for a family of four (parents and two children). Zoo revenue typically dips during the monsoon months of July, August, and September, with collections also lower in June compared to the rest of the year. The highest revenue is recorded in May, coinciding with school vacations, and during the festive months of November and December.
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