In eight years, Humboldt penguins at Mumbai Zoo have grown from five to 18 in number Premium

The Mumbai Botanical Udyan and Zoo is now home to 18 Humboldt penguins.

Amidst Mumbai’s tall residential and commercial skyscrapers in Byculla, lies the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Vanaspati Udyan and Zoo or the Mumbai Botanical Udyan and Zoo, popularly known as Rani Baug. The 60-acre zoo and garden in the heart of the city is home to over 6,600 trees and over 350 animals and birds of various species.

It was eight years ago, on July 26, 2016, when the Mumbai Botanical Udyan and Zoo brought home three male and five female Humboldt penguins from Coex Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea. The five penguins were opened to public display only on March 17, 2017. Since then, with the number of baby penguins born at the Mumbai Botanical Udyan and Zoo, their number has multiplied to 18 now.

The zoo authorities and the State government’s decision to add penguins to the Mumbai zoo back then was done to bring joy to the visitors as well as make the zoo profitable, by making it possible for those who cannot go abroad to see penguins help them check one off their bucket list, at a nominal cost.

Recalling the days when the penguins travelled from Seoul to their new home in Mumbai, Zoo Biologist at the Mumbai Botanical Udyan Abhishek Satam says that upon arrival, the penguins were kept in a quarantine section for over eight months. He adds, “Since they were very young at that time, we kept them under observation to constantly monitor their health with daily physical examinations such as blood and stool tests, weekly weight check-ups, monitor their sleep cycle and activities.” 

The oldest penguin Flipper [10.5 years] lives with Molt [9 years] and their kids Oscar [3 years], Bingo [2 years], Siri [1.5 years] and Coco [1 year].  

The family of Donald [9.5 years] and Daisy [10 years] includes Oreo [3 years], Flash [2.5 years], Alexa [2 years], Dora [1.5 years] and Jerry [1 year].

The couple, Popeye [9.5 years] and Olive [10 years] have babies Nemo [1.5 years] and Stella [1 year]. There is also 9-year-old Bubble who does not have a pair yet but has recently started to mingle with Oscar.