Latest news with #Noddy
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Mumbai Byculla Zoo plans expansion to house 40 penguins, prevent territorial fights
Mumbai: The Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo (Byculla Zoo), known as Rani Baug, will be expanded to accommodate at least 40 penguins and avoid territorial fights among them, an official said. The zoo authorities have offered penguins in exchange programmes to multiple zoos, but had no takers as the cost of their upkeep is significant. (HT Photo/ Representative photo) Penguins have a tendency to nest in specific areas called breeding zones. 'The chicks have their specific breeding spots where they nest. If the space is not extended, there are chances that territorial fights will start among them. In order to avoid the fights, it is best to expand the area at least as much as the space is available,' the official said. In 2016, three male and three female chicks of Humboldt penguins were brought to the zoo. Since then, the population has gone up to 21 chicks, with Tom, Noddy, and Pingu adding to the family in March this year. Currently, the 21 chicks have 150 sq ft of accommodation space. As the older penguins grow in size, they will also need a larger space to live and move around, the official added. Also Read: Botanical walk sheds light on green treasures at Byculla Zoo The zoo authorities have offered penguins in exchange programmes to multiple zoos but had no takers, as the cost of their upkeep is significant. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which manages the zoo, has spent over ₹25 crore on the upkeep and maintenance of these birds alone. Also Read: Mumbai's zoo is a sad place The work for expansion of the penguin enclosure will be given to the contractor who is also building the tunnel aquarium next to the penguin enclosure. The tender for the tunnel aquarium was cleared in May this year and work is expected to begin soon.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Penzance toy shop owner reunited with Noddy sign after 38 years
A man who owned a toy shop has been reunited with the distinctive 'Noddy' sign that was above the door, 38 years after he sold the Salter's family owned the Phillips shop in Penzance, Cornwall for 95 years, and had the Noddy sign above the door from the late 1970s until it closed in sign ended up in a garage until an unnamed local man recently got in touch with Mr Salter's wife, who arranged to collect Salter said he was "blown away" when his wife gave it to him as a surprise. When the family sold the business, the sign and the frontage of the shop on Market Jew Street were taken down by the Salter said it was a "very sad time" but running the business was "getting very hard".He recently posted a picture showing the old sign above the shop on a local Penzance nostalgia Facebook group, which generated a number of the responders was a neighbour, who realised the sign had been sitting in his shed gathering dust, and got in touch with Mrs Salter said: "I was out and my wife told me to go and have a look in the garage and I couldn't believe it when I saw it - I was blown away." The shop was first run by Mr Salter's great-great uncle in 1892 and initially sold prams and sewing machines before moving into toys after World War Salter said: "The sign went up in the late 1970's and local people didn't call it Phillips , they called it the Noddy shop because of the sign."He plans to hang the sign in his garage and said "when I'm gone it will be donated to a local museum". The shop now sells mobile phones.
News18
04-06-2025
- General
- News18
What's In The Name? Row Over Penguin Names At Mumbai Zoo, BJP Demands Preference To Marathi
Last Updated: The BJP leaders are arguing that the baby Pengiuns are domiciled in Maharashtra by birth, and therefore, should be given Marathi names. The penguins at the Byculla Zoo have again grabbed the headlines after a massive row erupted in the political circles of Mumbai over their names. Intensifying the push for the Marathi language, BJP leaders are demanding that Penguin chicks born in a city zoo should be given Marathi names. Expanding their son or daughter-of-the-soil debate, so far restricted to humans, the BJP leaders are arguing that the flightless birds are domiciled in Maharashtra by birth, and therefore, should be given Marathi names so that Maharashtra's cultural identity and Marathi language are respected. The controversy erupted at a time when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are round the corner in Mumbai, and debate over language and identify are growing in political parties. How It All Began? In March 2025, eight penguins kept in Ranibagh gave birth to three chicks. Following which, the zoological museum administration named the chicks — Noddy, Tom and Pingu. Soon after the baby penguins were named, an objection was raised by the BJP leaders, saying Marathi names should have been given priority while naming the penguins. BJP leader from Byculla constituency Nilesh Bankar objected to this and sent two letters to the zoo administration. 'Giving English names to these penguins is injustice to the Marathi language. Isn't this hatred towards Marathi language?" he said. According to NDTV, the BJP leaders said the penguins were born in Mumbai and described the newborn penguins as 'native residents'/'sons of the soil' i.e., bhumiputra from birth. However, there was no official response from the zoo administration to the BJP BJP leaders have also protested in front of the zoo. First Published: June 04, 2025, 12:23 IST
NDTV
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Why Not Marathi?" Huge Row Over Penguin Names At Mumbai's Byculla Zoo
Mumbai: The penguins at the Byculla Zoo have been in the headlines since they arrived in Mumbai in 2016. The penguins became available for public viewing from 2017 at the zoo and since then have become very popular among visitors to the zoo. An idea initially pushed by Shiv Sena UBT leader and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray, these penguins became a subject of public debate from day one. Seven years later, another round of politics has broken out over the naming of the penguins. BJP leaders say that since new penguins are born in Maharashtra, they should be given Marathi names so that Maharashtra's cultural identity and Marathi language are respected. The controversy comes at a time when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are round the corner in Mumbai, and political parties are giving prominence to issues of identity and language. What's In A Name? In March 2025, eight penguins kept in Ranibagh gave birth to three chicks. The zoological museum administration named them Noddy, Tom and Pingu. This is what the BJP leaders are objecting to. BJP leader from Byculla constituency Nilesh Bankar objected to this and sent two letters to the zoo administration. According to the BJP leader, since Marathi has recently been accorded the classical language status, Marathi names should have been given priority while naming the penguins. "Giving English names to these penguins is injustice to the Marathi language. Isn't this hatred towards Marathi language?" he said. BJP's Push For Marathi Names BJP leaders said the penguins were born in Mumbai. Describing the newborn penguins as 'native residents'/'sons of the soil' i.e., bhumiputra from birth, the BJP argues they should be given Marathi names. Letters were sent, warning the administration that if it did not take positive steps regarding Marathi renaming, the BJP would launch a "strong agitation". Copies of the letters have also been sent to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Guardian Minister, and BMC officials. However, there was no official response from the zoo administration to the BJP leaders, following which Nilesh Banker and other BJP workers protested in front of the zoo. The Big Picture: BMC Elections Mumbai has seen politics over language and cultural identity. Earlier these issues were limited to people and jobs, but now it has reached the penguin colony too. The controversy has become a subject of political, linguistic and cultural debate. The zoo administration hasn't responded to the demands yet and there is no clarity yet on whether there will be any change in the names of these penguins or not. Debate Over Expenditure The opposition in the BMC had described the exercise of introducing penguins as wasteful expenditure and raised questions on whether the penguins will be able to survive in Mumbai's climate even with the climate-controlled facilities created for them. Not only did they survive but the first penguin baby was born in Mumbai in 2018. Unfortunately, it did not survive and died within a week. However, since the programme has had success and the penguins are among the star attractions at the zoo. So far most of the penguins at the Byculla zoo have had English names but this time around that could change.
Sunday World
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Sunday World
Hyundai's Inster is a gamechanger for the brand with a starting price of less than €19k
Hyundai's latest is a small wonder that comes in at a very small price, starting at less than €19k Hyundai's Inster has plenty of legroom for a small city car, but the space gained for passengers is sacrificed in the boot When it comes to electric city cars you won't find anything slicker than Hyundai's new amazing Inster. The only complaint I have is the fact that Hyundai Ireland gave me a bright yellow-coloured model to test drive. I mean the only thing it was missing were four red wheel arches and I really would have looked like Noddy driving around Toytown. However, after getting over the initial hue-miliation everything else about the little Inster got my seal of approval. Inside the Hyundai Inster On the outside, it is fair to say that the little city car is extremely quirky to look at, although it may not tickle everyone's tastebuds. But I think it's kind of funky for a city car. I don't know if it was the Fyffes banana colour or my ugly mush, but it certainly turned heads during my week-long test drive. The Inster's exterior looks are loosely based on a Hyundai stablemate called the Casper. Yes, like me, you won't have ever heard of it as it is only sold in Korea in petrol-powered form. Up front, the Hyundai Inster features LED daytime running light signature and pixel-graphic turn signals, tail lamp and bumpers. Offered as an option, if you really want to push the boat out, are LED projection headlamps and a two-tone exterior with a contrasting black roof. Elsewhere, either 15-inch steel with wheel covers, 15-inch alloys or 17-inch alloy wheels are offered depending on specification. But it was the Inster's inside that impressed me the most – especially how much room there is on offer for a small, city car. I actually couldn't believe how much legroom there was on offer for the rear-seat passengers. I mean, I have been in some luxurious executive cars that haven't got anywhere near it. Inside the Hyundai Inster The downside to that though is that the passenger space is obviously taken from the boot space and you certainly won't be fitting two 20kg bags for your summer holidays. However, if you are not towing a couple of rugrats around, the rear two (yes there is no third seat) can be folded offering enough room for even an Ikea run. Inside, Inster provides enhanced technology and convenience with a 10.25-inch digital cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment touch-screen with navigation and a wireless charging dock that forms part of a compact centre console designed to create a greater sense of spaciousness. Access The interior also offers versatility and spaciousness, with the front row seating providing walk-through access. All seats can be folded flat – including the driver's seat – for increased flexibility. A front bench seat option and heated front seats and steering wheel are also available. The second-row seats are split 50/50 and slide and recline. On the road, the new Hyundai Inster is extremely impressive too. For a small, city car the range is excellent with the entry-level model offering a claimed driving range of more than 300km from its 42kWh pack and 355km from the extended 49kWh one. Now down to the best bit. Hyundai Ireland has absolutely nailed this one with a starting price of less than €19k. I mean, you would spend close to that for a two-week family trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida these days. I haven't had a chance to drive the Renault 5 yet, which my colleague has reviewed on the opposite page, but this little Hyundai Inster is top of the (EV) range in my eyes so far this year. TECH SPEC MODEL: Hyundai Inster 49kWh PRICING: Inster from €18,995 inc. incentives, €21,995 as tested POWERTRAIN: electric – 84.5kW electric motor, lithium-ion battery of 49kWh usable energy capacity RANGE: 369km (claimed)
