Baby crocodile spotted at Dadar pool, BMC files complaint against pvt zoo

Speaking to The Indian Express, Kishore Gandhi, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (DMC) (Gardens) said, “We have filed a complaint against the privately owned zoo, which houses exotic animals. This is the second time that we have filed a complaint against the zoo. Earlier, we had registered a complaint with the police as well as the forest department after a python had entered the pool about three – four months back.”

DCP – Zone V, Manoj Patil said, “The matter has been transferred to and is being looked into by the forest department as they have been monitoring this issue since the beginning. They are conducting the inquiry and the police are cooperating in the same.”

In the complaint filed at Shivaji Park Police Station on Tuesday, the coordinator of civic theatre and pools, Sandeep Vaishampayan wrote, “From the point of view of security, the said zoo does not have any kind of fence so the possibility of the animals entering the pool cannot be ruled out.”

“According to the members of the pool, the snakes and pythons that have been found four times in the pool are coming from the private zoo which is situated in the neighbourhood,” further read the complaint.

Around 5.30 am on Tuesday, the staff spotted the baby crocodile swimming around, during a routine inspection of the pool.

Sandeep Vaishampayan, coordinator of civic theatre and pools said, “The reptile was safely rescued from the pool using a net and then was moved to a drum.”

Upon rescue, the hatchling was handed over to the forest department.

However, while carrying out the rescue operations, one of the staff members was bit by the hatchling. In a bid to treat the bite, the staff member was taken to the civic run Sion hospital. “Even though crocs are not poisonous, the staff member was given an injection and received further treatment,” said the coordinator.

In the past six months, the staff has spotted and rescued animals — snakes, python and now a hatchling (baby crocodile) — from the pool on four seperate occasions.

Situated near Dadar’s Taran lake, the zoo is home to several types of snakes, crocodiles as well as birds which have been placed in standard cages with no secure fencing, civic officials said.

The ‘Marine Aqua Zoo’ website, meanwhile, states that they work on projects pertaining to the environment.

“You will find various activities like aquariums, organic manure, nursery, CrossFit, lectures on simple home remedies and many more…”, reads the “about us” section of the website.

While a ticket worth Rs 20 allows visitors to view the animals situated within the private zoo premises, an additional charge of Rs 100 enables visitors to handle them.

DMC Gandhi added that the zoo is operating on a BMC land parcel.

“Currently, the civic body’s estate department and the ward office are trying to procure the land from them”, said Gandhi.

Following the reptiles’ rescue, the swimming pool kept its doors open for members on Tuesday. Vaishampayan said, “We will be taking measures to increase the security as well as enhance the vigilance.”