Mumbai, Sep 11: To look after Humboldt penguins and their enclosure at Byculla zoo (Veermata Jijabai Udyan), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is mulling to hire a private contractor. The proposal to hire a private contractor as caretaker came the death of baby Humboldt penguin born in the zoo on August 15 due to liver dysfunction and yolk sac retention.

The death of baby Humboldt penguin in August showed that the civic body does not have expert technical staff on board to look after the aquatic, flightless birds. If the proposal gets the nod, then the shortlisted contractor, M/s Highway will have to provide technical staff to maintain life support systems, air conditioning systems of the enclosure and provide good food to the penguins. Penguins Are Disappearing! 90% of The Largest Colony Shrunk in 3 Decades Reveals New Study.

While Sanjay Tripathi, the in-charge of Byculla Zoo, denied that the move comes in the wake of the baby penguin's death, the proposal categorically states the zoo authorities have no expert technical staff, and so they want to hire a private contractor, reported Free Press Journal.

The BMC had brought eight penguins – Donald, Daisy, Popeye, Olive, Flipper (oldest female), Bubble, Mr Molt (youngest male) and Dory from COEX Aquarium, South Korea, in July 2016 at the cost of Rs 2 crore. The civic body had come under heavy fire after the death of Dory for not providing proper facilities to penguins.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 11, 2018 06:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).