Tigress’s escape exposes Nandankanan zoo affairs

BHUBANESWAR: Tigress Megha’s escape from its enclosure into a neighbouring one where it was injured following an infighting with two juveniles has exposed the poor state of management at Nandankanan Zoo.

On Saturday afternoon, Megha which was lodged in enclosure no 32 (A) managed to sneak into enclosure no 32 (B) through a hole in the wire mesh. When the visitors created a commotion, the zoo authorities learnt about it and managed to push Megha back into its cage. It was lunch time when the mishap occurred and most staff were away.

Deputy Director of the zoo Jayant Kumar Das said, Megha took advantage of an opening in the mesh which was located close to the moat and had apparently been damaged by rust.
Incidentally, the zoo authorities had carried out renovation and repair of the enclosure in recent past. Although the environmental conditions had led to an opening in the enclosure, how the staff failed to notice it has surprised everyone and posed a serious question about efficiency of the monitoring and maintenance staff of the zoo.

Sources said, the maintenance staff are engaged in new projects which is why they had no inkling about the damage in the enclosure. Zoo’s Assistant Conservator of Forests is supposed to be in the know of things but he apparently had no clue either.

The mishap led to infighting in which Megha as well as Sahil and Adyasa, the two juveniles one of which is white, were injured. Later, Megha was taken off exhibit. “Had the tigress managed to enter the public area, this could have become a huge mishap,” said a visitor.
Interestingly, the Zoo authorities have installed over 40 CCTV cameras to keep a watch on the public areas in the park. However, the surveillance could not notice the mishap because it was the visitors who raised the alarm. Sources said, a majority of the CCTVs are not functioning properly.