Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosle Botanical Garden and Zoo (Byculla Zoo) will get two pairs of Asiatic lions from Junagadh’s Sakkarbaug Zoo by the end of the year. The Byculla Zoo has begun the process of procuring three pairs of tufted capuchin monkeys from abroad to exchange with Sakkarbaug Zoo in return for the lions.

A senior civic official told mid-day on Friday, “We are procuring the capuchin monkeys through an international agency. As per our agreement with Sakkarbaug Zoo, we will receive the lions in exchange for the monkeys. The entire process is likely to take two to five months, so the lions should arrive by December 2026.”