Amid an inquiry launched by the forest department into the operations of the Dadar’s privately-run Marine Aqua Zoo, former Union minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi has written to the Central Zoo Authority, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the forest department seeking the closure of the zoo and action against the privately-run facility. Speaking to The Indian Express, Gandhi said, “The Dadar zoo, which has no authorisation from the CZA, needs to be shut. The zoo has high mortality rate, alongside reports of an enormous amount of stealing. They maintain no record of the exotic animals and how they have been brought into the country. Despite many complaints, the zoo continues to operate and the forest department has failed to take any action.” Maneka Gandhi, had first written a complaint against the facility four months ago. Sprawled over 2,050 square metres near Dadar’s Shivaji Park, the Marine Aqua Zoo claims recognition by the Central Zoo Authority and has been running as a commercial facility since 2022. However, in response to an RTI query filed by The Indian Express, the CZA — the country’s nodal agency for issuing permissions and maintaining oversight of zoos — said that no such permission had been granted to the facility. On May 30, a team of officials from the forest department launched a probe into the operations of the zoo and seized seven exotic animals, after a complaint alleging illegal operation and poor upkeep of animals in the zoo was received by the authority. About the probe, Sonal Valvi, assistant conservator of forest (ACF), said, “We have been conducting our investigation to check the papers pertaining to the species among other aspects. We will register a case soon after our investigation concludes.”
