White tiger kills caretaker in Bannerghatta

BENGALURUI: A 35-year-old caretaker was killed in an attack by a white tiger in Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) on Saturday evening. Forest Department officials said the victim Anjaneya alias Anji, who had joined the park only a week ago, was mauled to death after he failed to close a gate on time.
A resident of Hakkipikki colony in Bannerghatta, Anjaneya was a temporary staffer who had joined as assistant guard.

A senior forest officer said the incident took place at the tiger safari around 5.45 pm when Anjaneya and another guard Huchche Gowda were releasing five tigers into the enclosure as was the practice. Gowda was inside the cage and placing meat for the tigers, while Anjaneya was standing next to the gate. He opened the gate and started letting the tigers in. Officials said he did not immediately shut the gate and the last tiger to go jumped at his throat. As it attacked Anjaneya, Gowda locked himself in another gate inside the enclosure and raised an alarm. Others rushed to the cage and rescued him.

Kushalappa, a forest officer, said a senior animal keeper who usually feeds the tigers was on leave for the past two days due to illness. “Therefore Gowda took Anjaneya’s help. Anjaneya did not notice the tiger moving back towards him after it went in. He should have closed the gate immediately. Action will be taken against other staff if they are found to be negligent,” Kushalappa told Express. There were no CCTV cameras at the spot.

Police shifted Anjaneya’s body to Anekal government hospital for post-mortem and his family was informed. Two weeks ago, Royal Bengal tigers had attacked a white tiger in the park which later succumbed to injuries. Two other white tigers were also injured after a fight. Staffers’ negligence  was blamed as the gates were not shut in the enclosure. On March 10, 2015, a 38-year-old animal keeper Krisna was similarly mauled to death by a lion at the park.