Even as the work on the newest Otter exhibit in Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Vanaspati Udyan and Zoo (Ranibaug) is nearing completion, citizens wishing to witness the charismatic aquatic mammals are in for an extended wait, amidst the zoo authorities’ quest for its resident otters yielding no positive responses yet. For the past one year, Ranibaug has been corresponding with the Surat zoo, Sarthana Nature Park— which is renowned for housing a thriving population of otters — with the request to exchange their otters with exotic birds at the Byculla Zoo. Officials, however, maintained that their pitch remains unaccepted. After the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) first floated the proposal to establish a new exhibit for otters, the civic body completed all civil works within one and half years at a cost of Rs 1.9 crores. Sprawled across 500 square metres, once complete, senior officials said that the exhibit has the capacity to hold nearly 6 - 7 otters. According to zoo authorities, once the arrival of otters is finalised, all pending works — which involves setting up of filtration systems, landscaping amongst others — can be executed in 2 - 3 months. Despite the work reaching its penultimate stage, the exhibit will remain unoccupied, for now, as the zoo authorities continue their search for its resident otters. According to Sanjay Tripathi, director of the Byculla Zoo, the zoo had approached the Sarthana Nature Park in Surat with a request for new otters as a part of an exchange programme, in compliance with the Central Zoo Authority of India. In exchange for the otters, Ranibaug has offered some of its exotic birds. However, their pitch for the exchange programme — which has been ongoing for the past one year — has not been met with a positive nod from the Surat based zoo. Speaking to The Indian Express, Tripathi said, “Since the past one year we have been corresponding with the Surat Zoo, requesting for otters. As a part of an exchange programme, through which we get new animals, we had requested Surat zoo to give us the otters in exchange for some of our exotic birds. However, they have not responded positively to our proposal.” While the Surat zoo is not the sole zoo to house otters, it is popular for housing a proliferating population of 38 otters. In the past, the Gujarat based zoo has exchanged pairs of otters for other animals at other zoos in the past including in Jamnagar, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Mysuru and Delhi. Tripathi explained why Mumbai’s request remains unfulfilled, and he says, “Among several reasons, one could be that they do not require exotic birds which we have offered in exchange.” Meanwhile, responding to questions about the developments of the Byculla exhibit, Tripathi added, “Within the next three months, the work on the exhibit will be completed entirely. Currently, we are working on finishing the landscaping works, setting up of filtration systems etc.” The upcoming Otter exhibit will be situated a the core of Rani Baug, close to the under-water viewing gallery housing crocodiles and gharials, which is also Asia’s first.
