The death of a penguin at a zoo in Mumbai has had major political ramifications in India, with the country’s opposition party making allegations of corruption against multiple parties, including the civic-run Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
In its complaint to Lokayukta – an anti-corruption watchdog – the Indian National Congress (INC) said that a contractor already blacklisted was handed the contract to develop the penguin enclosure at Byculla Zoo, with the animals unable to survive India’s intense climate.
The 18-month old Humboldt penguin reportedly died of a bacterial infection. Named Dory, it was one of eight shipped from South Korea in July in a deal worth US$300,000 (€270,000, £240,000). The entire project, including construction, was valued at US$7.5m (€6.75m, £6m).
According to the INC’s allegations, the penguin project was a financial scam by far-right political party Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party-run (BJP) BMC.
Following the penguin’s death, questions were raised by a number of organisations about the wellbeing of the remaining penguins, which led to the corruption allegations from BMC.
"We want the Lokayukta to probe this, there are irregularities in contracts,” said Praveen Cheda, INC leader. “These penguins should be sent back."
The zoo itself has defended the enclosure, with its director confirming that they were being kept between 16 and 18 degrees – lower than the 20 degree requirement for the species – and that the remaining seven birds were all “healthy and active”.
The Humane Society has been actively involved in the matter, urging Lokayukta to address the issue and prevent the BMC from further imports which it says violates India's commitment to the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species.
The Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the body which oversees zoos and captive wildlife for the country, also demanded an explanation for the death, prompting Lokayukta to summon BMC officials for a hearing today (4 November).
The penguins are currently under quarantine before going on public display at the end of the month.
