Mumbai: Remember those school picnics to Byculla zoo? Clutching your partner's hand, holding your nose at the smell, peering into dim cages, waiting in vain for the often cranky animals to show up? A radically different experience is in store for kids today because Mumbai's zoo just got a face lift.

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, with support from United Way of Mumbai, have made many improvements to the Jijamata Udyan at Byculla. Last year Zoocheck Canada, an organisation which works towards im proving the condition of zoos across the world, came down harshly on the 1861-established Jijamata Udyan calling it a “shameful reminder of what zoos continue to do in the name of conservation and education''.

“PETA's philosophy is against keeping animals in captivity, but this is an exception. The animals were kept in deplorable conditions and since this is one of India's oldest zoos we wanted to do something to improve it,'' says campaign coordinator Dilpreet Beasley. After much lobbying and a meeting with the governor, PETA, which is in contact with Zoocheck, finally got permission to work with the zoo officials.

In just six months, the zoo which has 200 animals and 450 birds, has been transformed. The enclosures have been cleaned and widened and the dank smell has disappeared. Grass and vegetation now grow in the cages to create habitat-like conditions for the animals. Moats which hadn't been cleaned for years have been scoured and refilled. But most importantly the animals are being kept busy. “Animals in captivity develop physical and psychological problems. We are trying to ensure no stereotyped behaviour like pacing or swaying in place develops,'' says Beasley.
The blank concrete shelves in the snake enclosure now sport a new look with sand, twigs and rocks that replicates the reptiles' natural surroundings. The leopards, which are arborial animals, now laze around on their new elevated resting logs. The elephants, chained for years, now forage freely in their enclosure, playing with tyres and sacks of coconut husks. And the monkeys have a network of ropes, tyres and hammocks to go bananas on.

United Way, the not-for-profit organisation that supports PETA, conducts a ‘Payrole Giving Programme' through which corporate employees can contribute part of their salary to an NGO. Deepa Chaudhary of United Way says that people who work nine to five often don't have the time or don't know how to contribute to civic issues. “We thoroughly asses all NGOs before partnering with them and arrange field visits so people can see that their money is being used properly,'' she says.
But much more needs to be done “We still lack funds to repair leakages in the elephant, swan and crocodile ponds. We also don't want the zoo to acquire any more animals as it lacks space and children can learn little by looking at caged animals taken out of their habitat'' says Beasley.

They want the help of volunteers to continue maintenance and citizens who visit the zoo (an average of 8,000 on weekdays) to exercise their moral responsibility by stopping others from teasing or harming the animals. Payal Bakshi, a project coordinator of PETA, who works at the zoo every single day says, “If people can contribute to the upkeep of the museum, surely they can care about the zoo animals which are a living part of the city.''