A zoo worker in India was attacked and killed by a hippopotamus after entering the animal’s enclosure to clean it on Monday.
The deadly animal attack took place at the Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, better known as Lucknow Zoo, in Uttar Pradesh, where a 40-year-old zoo employee, identified only as Suraj, ventured into the hippo’s enclosure along with a colleague to carry out a scheduled cleaning, Indian Express reported.
The hippo was supposed to be locked in a cage during regular maintenance of the enclosure, but the huge mammal somehow got out and charged at Suraj, killing him on the spot.
Suraj had worked at the zoo for about 12 years and had received training in cleaning facilities and feeding animals.
He is survived by his wife and two children, a son and a daughter.
The other zookeeper, identified as Raju, was injured in the hippo attack but survived and was hospitalized in stable condition.
A hippopotamus at the Lucknow Zoo in Uttar Pradesh, India, attacked and killed a worker cleaning its enclosure on Monday (file image). AFP via Getty Images The hippopotamus had been moved to the Lucknow zoo from another wildlife park just a few weeks ago. @oficiallucknowzoo / Instagram
Lucknow zoo director Aditi Sharma said the hippo was immediately locked up and no other injuries were reported.
The incident occurred on a day when the zoo was closed to visitors.
The hippopotamus had been shifted to Lucknow from a Kanpur zoo just a few weeks ago.
A zoo official speculated that the hippo enclosure may not have been properly secured during the cleanup.
The Lucknow zoo’s hippopotamus injured another cleaner, who had to be hospitalized (file image). SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Lucknow Zoo was closed to visitors at the time of the deadly animal attack on Monday. Lucknow Zoo
Sharma promised a thorough investigation into the deadly incident and said that “if there is any mistake, it will be rectified,” the Hindustan Times reported.
The sprawling Lucknow Zoo, founded in 1921, is home to over 1,000 animals of around 104 species, including lions, tigers, bears and hyenas.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn