Jijamata Udyaan

Jijamata Udyaan (Marathi: जिजामाता उद्यान) formerly called Ranichi Bagh (meaning Queen's Gardens) after the original British name Victoria Gardens, and now also known as Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, is a zoo and garden located at Byculla, in the heart of Mumbai, India. It was laid out in 1861 and is one of the oldest zoos in India.

Also, situated in the Gardens is the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum (formerly Victoria and Albert Museum), mainly of industrial and agricultural interest. On the grounds to the east of the museum is the giant statue of an elephant, taken from the Elephanta Caves on Gharapuri to Britain in 1864, and later returned to these gardens.

The Zoo

Jijamata Udyaan also houses the Mumbai Zoo. It houses many rare and endangered species of animals and birds and stuffed animals which are stuffed by many talented taxidermists. The state of the zoo degraded considerably and currently the zoo find its place in the list of worst zoos in the world by many independent institutions. This has occurred owing mainly due to the poor hygienic conditions and indifference by the zoo staff.