Sakkarbaug Zoo to Exchange Four Asiatic Lions for Six Capuchin Monkeys

Gandhinagar: Gujarat is set to send four Asiatic lions to Mumbai’s Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo, popularly known as Rani Baug, in Byculla, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel directing officials to expedite the formalities for the proposed animal exchange on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

The development followed a meeting between Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and Patel at his residence in Gandhinagar on Wednesday evening. According to a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) statement, Patel instructed the Gujarat administration to complete the necessary formalities and initiate the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two zoos.

The Gujarat government is expected to send a formal approval letter and a draft MoU to the BMC shortly.

Under the proposed exchange, Junagadh’s Sakkarbaug Zoological Park will provide two pairs of Asiatic lions, comprising two males and two females, to the Mumbai zoo. In return, the Byculla zoo will transfer three pairs of tufted capuchin monkeys to Sakkarbaug Zoological Park. Both zoos have already agreed to the exchange, the BMC said.

The BMC also confirmed that a modern enclosure for the Asiatic lions has been completed at Rani Baug in accordance with the master layout plan approved by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).

Earlier on Wednesday, Tawde met Gujarat Minister of State for Forests Pravinkumar Mali and requested him to expedite the transfer of the lions. Mali accepted her representation and directed the forest department’s principal secretary to initiate the necessary action.

The meeting with Patel was also attended by Dhrangadhra MLA Prakashbhai Varmora, senior Gujarat government officials and BMC Zoo Director Dr Sanjay Tripathi.

While the Gujarat government has directed officials to proceed with the agreement, the formalities are yet to be completed. No date has been announced for the arrival of the lions in Mumbai. DeshGujarat