After the death of Anarkali, why Byculla Zoo in Mumbai will no longer house elephants

Life and times of Anarkali

Anarkali, along with Laxmi, was brought into the Byculla Zoo from a circus in Bihar in 1977. She was only 12 years old at the time. Over the years, Laxmi and Anarkali had developed a playful bond, much to the delight of visitors. Anarkali also gave rides to scores of visitors in the city’s only zoo — before the provision was discontinued in the 1990s amid protests by animal rights activists.

After Laxmi’s demise in 2020, owing to a chronic heart attack, Anarkali was so aggrieved that she started exhibiting sadness through behavioural change for several months. Since Laxmi’s passing, Anarkali had been the lone elephant on the zoo premises as well as its oldest resident.

Anarkali would actively participate in enrichment exercises which were replete with soil area, grass section, water tank etc. A biologist said, “As a part of her exercise, we would create honey trails for Anarkali and had a wooden ball for her to play with. We also had an arrangement of artificial rain through showers where she would cool herself. During summers, we would also make fruit popsicles for Anarkali.”

Anarkali had been engaging in regular enrichment activities until November 8, when she fell in her paddock area. Veterinarians at the zoo concurred that Anarkali’s demise was primarily due to old age.

“Soon after, we tried to lift her using cranes but she was unable to stand or move. Then, we started treating her on the spot. Unfortunately, she passed away on November 10, 2024. While the cause of her death was primarily owing to old age, the PM report also showed that she had cardio-respiratory failure,” a biologist at the zoo told The Indian Express.

An elephant typically has a lifespan of 60 years.

After she passed away, Anarkali was given a burial within the zoo compound.

Why Byculla Zoo won’t have any other elephant?

Spanning over 4000 square metres, the elephant premises are currently unoccupied. Senior BMC officials said no elephants will be housed within the zoo facility, despite the presence of the huge enclosure.

Sanjay Tripathi, Director, Byculla Zoo said, “The guidelines issued by CZA in the early 2010s banned elephants from further addition into the animal collection at a zoo. Therefore, no elephants will be brought into the zoo now”.

According to officials, the new guidelines had been implemented by a panel to improve management as well as ensure the well-being of elephants who demand large open spaces for movement which several zoos fail to offer.

Tripathi said the existing facility will be re-developed into an enclosure for other animals. “We already have an animal collection of approved species. Each animal has a separate set of demands. We will determine and check which species the existing facility will cater to in the best way. Accordingly, we will take further decisions and submit documents to the Central Zoo Authority for its approval,” added Tripathi.

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