Mumbai’s Byculla Zoo To Remain Open on Eid-E-Milad, Closed Next Day
Mumbai's Byculla Zoo will remain open on Wednesday, August 26, despite the Eid-e-Milad public holiday, and will instead observe its weekly closure on Thursday, August 27. Meanwhile, the zoo is preparing to receive four Asiatic lions from Junagadh's Sakkarbaug Zoo by December through an animal exchange involving three pairs of tufted capuchin monkeys.
Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo will remain open to visitors on Wednesday, August 26, despite the public holiday for Eid-e-Milad, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Monday. The Byculla zoo, which normally observes Wednesday as its weekly holiday, will instead remain closed on Thursday, August 27.
The change follows a previously approved BMC resolution under which the zoo and botanical garden remain open when a public holiday falls on their regular weekly closure day, Mid Day reported. The facility is therefore expected to receive visitors on Wednesday before observing its weekly closure on Thursday. State Excise Officials Halt German DJ Stella Bossi's Mumbai Gig (Watch Video).
Byculla Zoo Open On August 26
The BMC said the decision applies to both the botanical garden and zoo at the Byculla facility.
Under the existing arrangement, the zoo remains closed every Wednesday. However, when a public holiday falls on a Wednesday, the civic body permits the facility to remain open on that day and shifts the weekly holiday to Thursday. Accordingly, visitors can access the zoo and botanical garden on Wednesday, August 26, while the facility will remain closed on Thursday, August 27.
Four Asiatic Lions Expected By Year-End
The Byculla Zoo is also preparing to receive four Asiatic lions from Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh by the end of 2026. The animals are expected to arrive as part of an exchange arrangement under which the Mumbai zoo will provide three pairs of tufted capuchin monkeys to Sakkarbaug Zoo.
A senior civic official told mid-day last month, “We are procuring the capuchin monkeys through an international agency. As per our agreement with Sakkarbaug Zoo, we will receive the lions in exchange for the monkeys. The entire process is likely to take two to five months, so the lions should arrive by December 2026.” The Asiatic lion enclosure at Byculla Zoo, constructed during Phase-I of the zoo expansion project, is currently vacant.
Lion Enclosure Ready
The BMC has said the 2,000-square-metre enclosure has been completed and designed to resemble the habitat of Asiatic lions in the Gir forest. “The zoo has completely prepared the Asiatic lion enclosure,” Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde said on Friday, August 21.
“Everything is ready, and we are awaiting the lions. I recently followed up with Sakkarbaug Zoo and was assured that the timelines will be met. I would also like to visit the zoo during the exchange and convey Mumbai's gratitude.” The enclosure includes a viewing panel and has been designed to provide visitors with a view of the animals while recreating elements of their natural habitat.
Capuchin Monkeys To Be Procured For Junagadh
The BMC is in the process of procuring three pairs of tufted capuchin monkeys from abroad for the exchange.
“We are not procuring them for Mumbai, and they are not part of our planned exotic animal zone. We are procuring three male and three female monkeys exclusively for Sakkarbaug Zoo,” an official said.
The monkeys are not intended to become part of Byculla Zoo's planned exotic animal zone. Instead, they will be transferred to Sakkarbaug Zoo as part of the agreement for the Asiatic lions.
International Procurement Process Underway
In its correspondence with Sakkarbaug Zoo, the BMC said it would appoint an agency to procure the monkeys while complying with statutory permissions, Central Zoo Authority guidelines, quarantine protocols, transport norms and other applicable procedures.
The civic body has proposed transporting the monkeys directly to Sakkarbaug Zoo after they arrive in India. The arrangement is intended to avoid subjecting the animals to repeated transportation and the associated stress.
If the proposed timeline is maintained, the arrival of the four Asiatic lions would mark the next major addition to Byculla Zoo's animal collection, while the immediate change in the weekly closure schedule will allow visitors to access the facility on the Eid-e-Milad holiday.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 24, 2026 05:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
