Mumbai: Mumbai and Raigad – both falling in the MMR are slated to get an international-class aquarium each in 2027, including one with the lovable Sea Lions that are popular in oceanariums world over.
Of the two, the BMC will build the new aquarium at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo (VJBBGZ) at Byculla. This aquarium will showcase more than 70 species of native fish/aquatic life with a walk-through glass tunnel, giving visitors an experience similar to international aquariums. The work is expected to be completed soon.
The Maharashtra Fisheries Department, along with other departments is constructing the Silla Aquarium and Sea Lion Entertainment Centre at Panvel in Raigad. The state Tourism Department, Raigad district administration, Panvel Municipal Corporation and Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, are involved in the project.
In a first for India, this project will house the famed Sea Lions – known for their extraordinary intelligence and ability to perform tricks, as seen in many Bollywood and Hollywood films or even circuses.
These two displays are expected to give a big boost to the state's tourism attractions and lure crowds not only from the MMR but also across India.
The VJBBGZ, established in 1862 as a botanical garden by the Agri Horticultural Society of Western India, is one of the oldest zoos of the country. It has the largest agglomeration of trees in the island city with widest species diversity - 6,000 trees and 300 species of animals and birds.
The Panvel proposed centre will include a marine and freshwater aquarium, an exhibition based on marine biodiversity, an ocean tunnel, digital learning centre for students, touch pool, an exhibition of jellyfish, coral reefs and various marine life, as well as research and breeding facilities.
The project would offer an entertainment centre, facilities for the care and management of marine mammals, a training and maintenance centre, an amphitheatre, Snow Park and a 12-D theatre besides a food court, souvenir shops, gardens, parking facilities plus other public amenities at the sprawling 10-acre site.
The new aquarium comes a decade after the country's commercial capital got its first Humboldt Penguins (July 2016) from South Korea - which remain the biggest attractions of the Mumbai Zoo.
Incidentally, the Mumbai Zoo is also undergoing a modernisation and expansion programme. Under this, a thematic exotic zoo will be established on an adjacent plot. The Exotic Zoo will feature 18 distinct animal habitats besides an enriching educational and entertaining experience, showcasing the diverse wildlife and cultural contexts of Australia, the Americas, and Africa.
There will be an array of captivating exhibits like the Pumas, Tamarins, Marmosets, Ring-tailed Lemurs, Meerkats, Giant Anteaters and a variety of bird enclosures, providing engaging experiences for visitors of all ages, particularly children.
An unusual African-themed two-storey Cheetah Restaurant, strategically situated amidst three animal exhibits, will offer diners a panoramic view of Cheetahs, Ring-tailed Lemurs, and Giraffe-Zebra habitats.
