Hyderabad: An 8-year-old African lioness, named Sirisha, at the Nehru Zoological Park escaped the night house area, where it was kept for treatment for hind limb paralysis and attacked the animal keeper. The incident took place on Monday.
The assistant animal keeper Syed Hussain, suffered from scratches and was admitted to Osmania General Hospital to be treated and is recuperating at home.
Officials at the zoo said that the door was not closed properly between the enclosures and the keeper went from one enclosure to another for cleaning purpose. The animal came out of its enclosure and attacked Syed Hussain, the official stated.
After the attack, Hussain ran out of the enclosure to inform zone employees that the lioness was out. The lioness managed to reach some 70-metres away from the night house area, near a crocodile moat.
Officials were quickly able to act, with the veterinarian team tranquilizing the lioness. It was taken back to the night house within 20 minutes.
An inquiry panel has been set up by the Director of the Zoo Park and as per a preliminary report, it was found that the animal keeper Hussain was careless in following safety measures and was irresponsible in monitoring the animals when closing the gates.
The panel will invite experts to train staff on ways to handle similar incidents.
The assistant animal keeper Syed Hussain, suffered from scratches and was admitted to Osmania General Hospital Telangana States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
