Lucky escape 6 yrs ago, not this time
25 Sept 2014 4:51 AM IST
Six years ago, a similar incident had happened at the Delhi Zoo when an inebriated man fell into the enclosure of a lioness. But luckily for him, the lioness spared his life, Zoo officials said Tuesday after a white tiger mauled a man to death.
‘Six years ago, a similar incident had happened. The man was in an inebriated state and had jumped in front of a lioness. The lioness fortunately spared the visitor,’ an official at the National Zoological Park said. The official said that the lioness had keenly noticed the visitor, who could have fallen prey to her, inside her enclosed area, but had not attacked him.
‘All security measures were adopted and the lioness was somehow lured into her cage by us,’ the official added. After being rescued, the man had climbed a tree in fear. He came down after the zoo officials enticed him to. On Tuesday, a man fell into the enclosure of the white tiger and was mauled to death.
Meanwhile, the security apparatus at the Delhi zoo came into question after the incident.
Though zoo officials termed it an ‘unfortunate incident’, questions have been raised over the delay in action to rescue the man who fell into the enclosure and was killed by the tiger.
Private security guards were also present around the enclosure No.8 where the tiger attacked the man.
One of the guards, Praveen, called other staff by sending a wireless message but it was too late.
The zoo has 20 enclosures and each is looked after by three caretakers who are not professionally trained to handle the animals.
According to zoo sources, no professional training is given but the caretakers have been told verbally how to behave with the animals while giving food and doing other work. On the fences of the enclosures, zoo officials said that the fence has been designed as per the standards laid down by the Central Zoo Authority.
‘Six years ago, a similar incident had happened. The man was in an inebriated state and had jumped in front of a lioness. The lioness fortunately spared the visitor,’ an official at the National Zoological Park said. The official said that the lioness had keenly noticed the visitor, who could have fallen prey to her, inside her enclosed area, but had not attacked him.
‘All security measures were adopted and the lioness was somehow lured into her cage by us,’ the official added. After being rescued, the man had climbed a tree in fear. He came down after the zoo officials enticed him to. On Tuesday, a man fell into the enclosure of the white tiger and was mauled to death.
Meanwhile, the security apparatus at the Delhi zoo came into question after the incident.
Though zoo officials termed it an ‘unfortunate incident’, questions have been raised over the delay in action to rescue the man who fell into the enclosure and was killed by the tiger.
Private security guards were also present around the enclosure No.8 where the tiger attacked the man.
One of the guards, Praveen, called other staff by sending a wireless message but it was too late.
The zoo has 20 enclosures and each is looked after by three caretakers who are not professionally trained to handle the animals.
According to zoo sources, no professional training is given but the caretakers have been told verbally how to behave with the animals while giving food and doing other work. On the fences of the enclosures, zoo officials said that the fence has been designed as per the standards laid down by the Central Zoo Authority.
Next Story
