BMC issues notice to private zoo after baby crocodile found in swimming pool

The notice procured by The Indian Express showed the civic body had discovered a variety of unauthorised structures ranging from tarpaulin shed, patra shed as well as brick masonry roofing amongst other things, built within the zoo,situated near Shivaji Park.

The notice comes on the heels of an FIR filed by Mumbai’s Range Forest Office against an unknown person under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Animal Act (1972) including dealings in trophy and animal articles without licence, after carrying out enquiries at the private zoo.

Marine Aqua Zoo has faced the brunt of police as well as forest department investigations after the civic body lodged a complaint against the private zoo.

This is the fourth time that an animal has been rescued from the Dadar pool fuelling BMC suspicions that the proximity of the privately owned zoo, where exotic reptiles and fish have been kept in standard cages, has led to the appearance of the animals in the pool. In the past six months, the staff has spotted and rescued four animals — snakes, python and now a hatchling (baby crocodile) — from the pool.