Mumbaikars, get ready to see Popeye and Olive waddle at the Byculla zoo

Eight Humboldt penguins, who have been named after popular cartoon characters, will be on display at the Veermata Jeejabai Udyan for visitors by end of November

The Humboldt penguins will be kept in a 1,700-sqft display area

Mumbaikars will finally be able to get a glimpse of the much talked about Humboldt penguins at the Byculla Zoo. According to zoo authorities, the 1,700-sqft display area is going to be ready very soon, and visitors will get to see the penguins by the end of next month. Once the penguins are on display, there might be an increase in the entry fee for visitors, but the administration is yet to take a final decision on that. 

After much controversy and opposition, eight Humboldt penguins had finally reached Veermata Jeejabai Udyan in Byculla in July this year. Three male and five female penguins are currently in the quarantine section, and are under the close supervision of experts. While six of the penguins are adults and are almost of breeding age, two of them are only a couple of months old. The temperature of the area is maintained from 16 to 18 degrees Celsius. There is also a team of people working towards ensuring a comfortable stay for these penguins.

Confirming that the process is nearing an end, Sanjay Tripathi, director of Byculla Zoo, said, “We have not finalised a date yet, but we are sure that we will be able to display them by the last week of November.”

Speaking about the penguins, Tripathi said, “The penguins have acclimatised to the conditions here. We are expecting more wildlife experts from abroad to visit here and share their observations.”

 “They have already been given names of popular cartoon characters such as Bubble, Dory, Olive, Popeye among all,” said another zoo official, who did not wish to be named.

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