New facilities at Byculla Zoo strives to provide a natural habitat for the inmates.

If you like most Mumbaikars are upset with the sorry state of affairs at the Byculla Zoo you have a reason to cheer. The Mumbai wing of United Way, an US based blue chip in association with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), are making life merry for the animals and visitors.

The campaign is an attempt to create an ideal habitat for the caged creatures. "We were shocked to see the lions huddling under a tiny ledge in the enclosure to escape the rain," said a PETA volunteer. However, tarpaulin shades built by the NGO gaurantees permanent shelter for the big cats now.

The leopards and tigers can now regally stretch on specially installed elevated resting logs. Besides the zoo checkers ensure timely first aid care for the animals.

Further, to extract natural behaviour from the captive cats, logs were installed for leopards to sharpen their claws and keep them occupied. "Gauging the arboreal (tree inclined) nature of leopards elevated resting platforms were put in the enclosure," explains PETA Campaign Coordinator Dilpreet Beasley.

The elephants who were chained almost constantly, are much happier today as they are free to move within the compound wall. Besides they have a pool of water to splash around alongwith a canopy of trees swathing their enclosure to playwith. Further they have cane and lucerne grass interspersed with their straw for their forage.

One could see a huge gathering of school children watching elephants toying with tyres and coconut husks provided by the NGO. "I am thrilled to see the elephant rolling a tyre on his back, letting it roll on the ground and then running along with it," says an excited student.

Monkeys had the most drab enclosure. However, now their space tells a different story. You notice the naughty monkeys clambering in their huts, foraging for snacks, climbing and swinging in their intricate new ropeway, gnawing at the sugercane and swinging on the hammock.

Sands and shrubs planted in the reptile enclosure gives the visitor the chance to see the animals borrow in and move about in their natural way. Water levels for the bear and the hippopotamus ponds have considerably come up. The water is changed every fortnight.

The campaign kicked-off early this year after United Ways gave its nod for financially supporting the plan conceived by PETA. The 'pay roll' policy devised by the company has roped in huge funds. "Pay roll is asking the common man to contribute a small share (one day salary) for a social cause on a voluntary basis," explains Suneet Mehra, Office bearer, United Way.