Mumbai Mayor Requests Asiatic Lions from Gujarat for City Zoo Enclosure

Mumbai's mayor has written to Gujarat's Chief Minister requesting the transfer of two male and two female Asiatic lions to the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo in Mumbai. The zoo has completed Phase I of its modernization and developed new enclosures for lions and other animals under Phase II. A 2019 proposal for exchanging lions with animals from Mumbai could not proceed due to unavailability of zebras. The mayor seeks intervention to facilitate the transfer and fill the vacant lion enclosure.