Mumbai's Byculla Zoo greenlights Rs 490 cr exotic zone, plans India's first 'cheetah restaurant'

Mumbai zoo

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a fresh push to create a sprawling, world-class exotic animal zone at the city’s historic Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Vanaspati Udyan and Zoo in Byculla.

With a budget pegged at Rs 490 crore, the ambitious project promises to introduce 19 exotic species, including the country’s first public exhibit of white lions and an innovative African-themed restaurant overlooking animal habitats.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the new zone will occupy 9.25 acres at the recently acquired Mafatlal compound, adjacent to the existing hippo enclosure. This marks the third tender floated for the project since 2019, with a previous Rs 291 crore tender scrapped over cost concerns.

The zone is designed as a thematic journey through the wildlife of Africa, the Americas and Australia. The largest exhibit, the African Savannah, will span nearly 5.6 acres and feature a mixed-species paddock with zebras, giraffes and oryx. An Australian boardwalk will allow visitors to walk among emus, wallabies and black swans.

A senior zoo official reportedly said that a key novelty is a planned five-star, African-themed ‘cheetah restaurant’. The two-storey structure, with a capacity for 500 diners per hour, would be situated amidst three animal exhibits — cheetahs, ring-tailed lemurs and the giraffe-zebra habitat — allowing diners to view the animals while eating. The official described it as an unprecedented concept for India, devised after studying international zoo models.

Another landmark initiative confirmed by officials is the development of India’s first white lion exhibit. The plan includes a safari-like experience where visitors would view the lions from specialised buses along a viewing gallery.

For all species, which will include gorillas, chimpanzees, jaguars and giant anteaters, the authorities intend to create enclosures that meticulously mimic natural habitats. According to the report, the animals will be sourced from international zoos and through exchange programmes within India.

The designs for the project have been prepared by Thailand-based HKS Designer and Consultants, with construction expected to take three years. This exotic zone is a central pillar of the civic body’s wider mission to overhaul the 163-year-old Byculla zoo.

Other planned developments include a new aviary for exotic birds in Nahur and a dome-shaped aquarium with walkthrough acrylic tunnels for viewing marine life.