Poster politics in Mumbai over Humboldt penguin's death: NCP slams Shiv Sena

Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) youth workers have put up posters in various parts of Mumbai, blaming the Shiv Sena for the death of a Humboldt penguin in Mumbai. The posters have been put up after a 18-month-old Humboldt penguin died on Sunday. The posters targetted the Sena which is the leading ally in the ruling alliance in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.

The posters have come up outside the Shiv Sena bhavan in Dadar, Matoshri, Shiv Sena chief Udhav Thackeray’s residence in Bandra East and near the Byculla zoo, where the penguin died.

One of the posters shows a penguin pleading not to be brought to Mumbai again. Eight Humboldt penguins were brought to Mumbai from South Korea on 26 July. An NCP youth wing leader questioned the wisdom of keeping the endangered species in the harsh tropical climate of Mumbai.

This is the pet project of Yuva Sena Chief Aaditya, son of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande has written to Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta demanding that the remaining seven Humboldts be immediately sent back to ensure their survival.

Humboldt Penguins can only thrive in cold climate and not a warm place like Mumbai and that MNS and environmentalists had been protesting against acquiring such exotic creatures right from the beginning.