The zoo, currently on the cusp of a revamp, proposes to house over 90 species of animals from Australia, Africa and Asia. To make the animals feel at home, PETA is seek ing a close-to-real ambience, akin to the one they are used to in their home continent.

The Rs 434crore revamp plan has thus far been opposed by the Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden Committee, as it fears that the revamp would entail felling of trees and that the zoo would be robbed of its heritage value.

The Brihan mumbai Municipal Corporation plans to commission the makeover project jointly to a Bangkok-based firm and a US-based firm.

On Friday, PETA wrote to Additional Municipal Commissioner R.A. Rajeev supporting the makeover plan, provided it is done with a view to conserving animals and not merely for entertainment.

“The current zoo management has proved it does not have the expertise to take care of the animals in the zoo. If it plans to outsource it to a private agency equipped to handle the animals with the view to conserving them, it will be a good move,” said Anuradha Sawhney, Chief Functionary of PETA.

“PETA had always been supportive but the opposition from the Save Rani Bagh Committee was unnecessary as the Central Zoo Authority had already approved it,” said Rajeev.

He assured that neither would trees be felled nor would the heritage structure be disturbed.

“Whatever can be done to improve the condition of the animals and maintain the garden’s sanctity must be done,” said Hutokshi Rustomfram of the Save Rani Bagh Committee.

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