On Thursday, February 15, a 38-year-old man from Alwar, Rajasthan, India was killed by a lion after he jumped into the animal’s enclosure at the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park in Tirupati, India.
Prahlad Gujjar, reportedly motivated by the desire to take a selfie with the lion, bypassed several safety barriers, including a buffer zone designed to keep visitors at a safe distance from the lions’ habitat. His actions culminated in a fatal encounter after he ascended a water tank, climbed up a four-foot wall, and jumped, landing him directly in the presence of a 12-year-old male lion at around 2:30 pm. The lion named Dongalpur dragged Gujjar to the corner of the enclosure and mauled him to death.
The zoo watcher tried to shout at Gujjar not to jump in, but it was too late. According to reports, it’s alleged that at the time of the incident, the victim appeared to be drunk.
Mallika Garg, the Superintendent of Police in Tirupati, reported that the zoo’s rapid response team was unable to prevent the attack. Gujjar was pronounced dead at the scene.
Zoo authorities mobilized to coax the lions back into their feeding cages, enabling the recovery of Gujjar’s body. His identity was confirmed through an Aadhaar card with a unique ID code found on his person, alongside a bus ticket from Hyderabad to Tirupati dated February 13, which suggests that Gujjar had traveled to the city with the specific intention of visiting the zoo.
Investigations into Gujjar’s background revealed his occupation as a driver. Efforts to notify his family were initiated via a contact obtained from his Aadhaar card. A friend of Gujjar, expressed ignorance of Gujjar’s reasons for being in Tirupati.
Following the incident, the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, which spans 1,200 acres and is considered one of Asia’s largest zoos, was temporarily closed. This closure allows for a comprehensive review of the zoo’s security measures to prevent future breaches.
