How Many Animals Are There in Rani Baug, Byculla? Rani Baug, Byculla is home to a total of 330 animals, including elephants, deer, crocodiles, penguins, etc.
Byculla Zoo is home to so many species of wild animals. You can spot wolves, sloth bears, hyenas and jackals. There are four different types of deer including spotted, sambar, swamp (barasingha) and barking deer. Byculla Zoo also has a butterfly park where these colourful species keep flying in splendour.
The Mumbai zoo has been bereft of a lion since 2014 when Jimmy, the 16-year-old African-Asiatic hybrid, died due to prolonged illness. Born at the Byculla zoo to African lion Amar and Asiatic lioness Anita in 1998, Jimmy was the last of the zoo's lions and a star attraction among visitors.
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How big is Byculla Zoo?
Spread across more than 60 acres in the heart of Mumbai, Rani Baug or the Veermata Jijabai Bhonsale Udyan is the oldest public garden in the financial capital of the nation.
India's Asiatic lion population rose from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, a jump of 32.2%, according to the 16th Lion Population Estimation report released on Sunday. The number of adult females has increased from 260 to 330, up by nearly 27%, boosting the species' ability to reproduce.
As for timing within the day, early morning is prime time. Not only is the weather more comfortable, but many animals are more active before the heat of the day sets in. You'll also get first pick of shaded benches, photo ops, and snack breaks with shorter lines.
The Big Cat Enclosure: The Big Cat Enclosure is one of the most popular attractions at Byculla Zoo. It is home to several species of big cats, including tigers, lions, leopards, and jaguars. Visitors can watch these magnificent animals from a safe distance and learn more about their behaviour and habitat.
The largest crocodile in captivity is Cassius at Marineland Melanesia on Green Island, Australia. Cassius holds the Guinness World Record for the largest crocodile in captivity at 18 feet long.
There have been multiple instances in the past where crocodiles have wandered out of the Powai lake and onto the roads, raising concerns about wildlife safety and urban planning."
Mumbai Zoo, officially known as Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo, is a popular zoological park located in Byculla, Mumbai, India. Spread over an area of approximately 50 acres, it is one of the oldest zoos in India, established in 1861.
Arignar Anna Zoological Park (Vandalur Zoo): Nestled in Chennai, this expansive zoo, also known as Vandalur Zoo, is the largest zoo in India. Covering a vast area, it provides a home to a diverse range of wildlife species.
Mumbai Zoo is a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike, and it can get very crowded during weekends, holidays, and festivals. The average footfall of the zoo is about 10,000 visitors per day, which can go up to 20,000 visitors on peak days.
However, soon, the critics were proven wrong. From a low of 15 cheetahs in Kuno in August 2023, the cheetah numbers have more than doubled today. Currently, there are 31 cheetahs, of which 19 are born in India.
IUCN). According to the latest tiger estimation by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and released by the Government of India on 29th July 2023, the current tiger population in India is estimated at 3,682 (ranging between a minimum of 3,167 to a maximum of 3,925 tigers).
In 2016, three male and three female chicks of Humboldt penguins were brought to the zoo. Since then, the population has gone up to 21 chicks, with Tom, Noddy, and Pingu adding to the family in March this year. Currently, the 21 chicks have 150 sq ft of accommodation space.
The inner circumference of the park is 1.17 kilometres (0.73 mi). The maidan area covers 112,937 square metres (27.907 acres), more than half of which is occupied by 31 tenants, the largest being clubs such as the Shivaji Park Gymkhana, and the Bengal Club.
Considering both housing societies and commercial zones have open garbage bins and open drainages, it becomes easy for the reptiles to find a place for hiding. “In a city like Mumbai, these snakes are almost everywhere right from drainages in residential and commercial spaces to open spaces and public gardens.
This marine-life-rich ecosystem also sustains a healthy population of bird-life and crocodiles. The Goan population of crocodiles in the Kumbarjua canal is currently estimated to be between 40-50. Although the number is healthy and stable, it is low and the crocodiles are recognised as highly endangered.
They're also light bioturbinators, which means their slow crawl stirs up the sediment and sets nutrient cycles in motion. One carpet shark took a wildly divergent evolutionary route and became the much celebrated whale shark, a species that ALSO lives in Mumbai's deeper waters, as do hammerheads, bulls and tigers.
