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The civic body-run Jijamata Udyaan, the only zoo in the city, has been undergoing renovation since March this year in an endeavour to provide better habitation to its animals, birds and reptiles alike. However, Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) has alleged that animals living in the zoo have not been kept in a clean environment because of which many of them are suffering from infections.

Zoo authorities have, however, denied the claim and said a few animals had fallen sick and that too it was because of old age.Sunish Subramanian from PAWS, Mumbai, said, “Most of the enclosures are empty. The few animals that are left have been put in small enclosures filled with rain and mucky water. These are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Though the zoo authority does not allow plastic bottles inside the zoo premises, plastic waste, gutka pouches and cold drink bottle caps were seen strewn everywhere, including the enclosures. We found that it had even kept sick animals in the enclosures for public view.”The BMC spends Rs 24 crore on maintenance of the zoo. However, Mr Subramanian said he had his doubts about how it was being utilised.Dr Sanjay Tripathi, a veterinarian and deputy superintendent of the zoo, said, “We maintain cleanliness. Some animals have died of old age; it has nothing to do with the living conditions. We take good care of them.”