Mumbai: Following a meeting with Gujarat chief minister Bhupendrabhai Patel at his residence in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, Mayor Ritu Tawde said the decks have been cleared for the arrival of Asiatic lions at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo in Byculla.According to Tawde, Patel directed the state administration to complete the administrative process at the earliest and execute a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh and Byculla zoo. Tawde further said that BMC would soon receive an approval letter and a draft MoU from Gujarat govt.According to the civic body, Sakkarbaug Zoo will give two male and two female Asiatic lions to Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo. In exchange, Byculla zoo will give three pairs of tufted capuchin monkeys to Sakkarbaug Zoo. Both zoos have already consented to the exchange.As per the final approved master layout plan of Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi, an international-standard, state-of-the-art exhibit for Asiatic lions has been prepared at Byculla zoo.Byculla zoo has been without a lion since 2014, when Jimmy died following a prolonged illness.Tawde also met Gujarat minister of state for forest Praveenkumar Mali in Gandhinagar and requested him to issue appropriate directions to the forest department to ensure that the Asiatic lions are transferred to Byculla zoo at the earliest.
