When the Byculla zoo announced its penguin project, animal activists were convinced that the authorities were bringing the birds to Mumbai only to send them to their death. That cynicism seems justified now, with the demise of one of the penguins on Sunday. But the problem goes way beyond these critters — the facility has sent a total of 444 animals to their grave in the last six years.

In each case, the zoo officials denied responsibility and blamed it on age-related ailments. There may be some validity to their claim that there is not enough breeding, resulting in an older population and, therefore, a high mortality rate. However, there have also been several reports about sub-standard conditions at the zoo, warranting immediate action.