India, March 6 -- Mumbai's first female BJP mayor Ritu Tawde has renewed efforts to bring back Asiatic lions to the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and zoo in Byculla by writing to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel.

In a letter dated February 25, Tawde urged Patel to transfer two pairs of lions to the city from the Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh, which houses the largest population of lions in captivity across the country.

"Despite continuous follow-up over the past 4-5 years, the Asiatic lions have not yet been made available for exhibition at the zoo. This has caused great disappointment among visitors. I request the chief minister to kindly intervene so that the citizens of Mumbai may soon receive two pairs of Asiatic lions...