Mumbai Crime: 10 reptiles worth Rs 4.55L ‘stolen’ from private zoo

A ball python, like one of those stolen from the private zoo. The FIR has been registered at Shivaji Park police station. Representation pic

The private zoo near Shivaji Park from where a baby crocodile had ventured into the Mahatma Gandhi swimming pool last month has complained to the police about the theft of reptiles, including six snakes. According to the authorities of Marine Aqua Zoo, apart from the six serpents, two monitor lizards, a blue-tongued skink and an iguana have been stolen.

Around 7.30 am on Wednesday, when the animals were supposed to be taken to a college for exhibition, the trustees found out about the alleged theft. The FIR has been registered in Shivaji Park police station.

Prithviraj Pawar, 27, a zoo trustee, said in his statement to the police, "The animals were supposed to be sent to the Somaiya Vidyavihar University campus. But I found some were missing. I believe they have been stolen."

As per the statement, two ball pythons, two red-tailed boas, a carpet python, a blue-eyed leucistic ball python, two Argentine tegus (monitor lizard), a blue-tongue skink (lizard) and an iguana were found to be missing. The value of the missing animal was estimated to be R4.55 lakh.

"We have filed an FIR against unknown persons under Section 380 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code. We are checking CCTV footage of the zoo and surrounding areas to find who has done this act," said Manoj Patil, DCP, Zone V.

The Marine Aqua Zoo, which is located beside the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Olympic Swimming Pool grabbed headlines on October 3 after a baby crocodile ventured into the pool. The zoo also faced action after the BMC razed illegal structures.