The Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo wants the Gujarat government to gift them a lion. The zoo authorities have written a letter to Gujarat officials requesting a lion, as they have been unable to find zebras to exchange with the Sakkarbaug zoo.

The civic-run Byculla zoo has been trying to introduce lions for the past two years. In August 2023, the zoo authorities wrote to their counterparts in Gujarat, requesting a pair of lions. “The Sakkarbaug Zoo authorities asked for a pair of zebras in return, but we couldn’t find any,” said a BMC official. “Then, in October 2023, we reached out to Sardar Patel Zoological Park [Kevadia zoo], offering penguins in exchange, but we received no response.” In December 2024, another letter was sent for a lion, but the request remains unanswered.