Public display of penguins at Byculla zoo won't be stopped: Bombay High Court

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New Delhi: The Bombay High Court has decided not to stop the public display of seven penguins, brought from South Korea to the Byculla zoo here, saying it cannot hastily conclude that they are not taken proper care.

A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice G S Kulkarni was hearing a petition filed by advocate Advait Sethna seeking a direction to the civic body to send the Humboldt penguins back saying they were not being taken good care here and that they were endangered species, which need a certain kind of environment.

Sethna sought interim direction to BMC not to display the penguins to public pending hearing of the petition.

The BMC on Friday told the court that on March 7 the penguins will be shifted from the quarantine area to the enclosure made specially for them. However, no date has been fixed so far regarding their exhibition to public.

"We cannot come to a conclusion that the penguins are not being taken care of properly. We are not going to stop the exhibition. Why should Mumbaikars not enjoy such penguins? Are there no penguin shows in other countries?" Chief Justice Chellur asked.

The bench posted the petition for further hearing after two weeks.

(With Agency inputs)