Ancient aquarium at Sayajibaug Zoo to be reopened

VADODARA: Now visitors to the city''s Sayajibaug Zoo can also enjoy a visit to an aquarium. The state department of fisheries has embarked on a project to reopen the old aquarium that was constructed in the early 1900s, in the zoo premises, by the then ruler of Baroda state, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad.
The aquarium was closed down in 1962 due to lack of technical staff and had become a place to store goods of the Sayajibaug Zoo, until recently.The building, which is aesthetically constructed, has natural light streaming in through ventilators and also has a plaque of a marble mural, which could be a replica or an original of the Felici woman sculpture housed in the Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery.
"We recently cleaned the building and applied a white wash, to house our aquarium. The property belongs to the VMC and if we get a good response to our new venture, then we plan to construct a larger aquarium similar to the Taraporewala aquarium in Mumbai and the Matsa Bhavan in Ahmedabad," informed, deputy director of fisheries department, A S Purani.
Purani said that the fisheries department had already chalked out an ambitious plan to make the aquarium an educational one for school children, who study fisheries as a subject, and also a recreational spot where even adults can see a variety of fish from all over the world.
"However, we will wait for an official conformation from the VMC. A 10-day exhibition is now planned to attract school children and other visitors to the zoo and the museum. If we get a good response, we would be able to initiate plans for a more extensive aquarium," said Purani.
"Different fish displayed at the aquarium includes the Blue Gormai fish, which has a unique breeding pattern. The female of the species builds a nest around a round object, floating on the water surface, using secretions and air bubbles. After she lays the eggs she has to be removed from the pond as she can eat up the eggs. The male of the species then protect the eggs and the nest till the young ones are born," Purani said.
He added that they also have on display fresh water white shark, which unlike its name suggests, is a harmless and tiny fish.