# Byculla zoo ends morning walks under animal welfare rules 2026-08-07T09:52:04+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The BMC has stopped allowing registered morning walkers into the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo in Byculla, ending a decades-old practice. The move, made last month, follows Central Zoo Authority guidelines requiring animals to have a disturbance-free period before visitor hours. Walkers had used a designated stretch from 6 am to 8 am for Rs 150 a month. After complaints, authorities plan to open a smaller stretch near the ticketing area, opposite the museum, from the entry plaza. Zoo officials cited complaints of walkers feeding stray dogs and plucking flowers. Garden trustees said the botanical garden predates the zoo and that Mumbai needs more accessible green space. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: animal welfare, BMC, Byculla zoo, morning walkers, Mumbai Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/byculla-zoo-ends-morning-walks-under-animal-welfare-rules/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/byculla-zoo-ends-morning-walks-under-animal-welfare-rules/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.