Almost a year after shutting its gates for visitors due to COVID-19 pandemic, Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo, popularly known as Byculla zoo, reopened this morning. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had approved the reopening of the zoo last Friday. The zoo, which houses a variety of animals ranging from deer and monkeys to elephants and a hippopotamus besides birds, was closed to the public on 15th of March last year. <br />'' <br />''AIR Correspondent reports, Mumbaikars flocked to Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo as it reopened for visitors this morning after being closed for 11 months due to COVID-19 pandemic. The zoological park, popularly known as Byculla zoo, will remain open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. adhering to COVID-19 safety norms. <br />''<br />''The BMC issued a circular last Friday asking all the visitors to follow COVID-19 protocols like social distancing and wearing masks. It has appealed to senior citizens, pregnant women and children under the age of five years to avoid visiting the zoo. Tourists have been advised not to touch glass or barricades in the zoo. <br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The water bird's aviary, has however been kept shut amid the Bird Flu scare. The BMC has used a novel way to make people aware about safety norms during the outbreak by making social distancing circles with paw prints of the animals housed in the zoo.</span><br />