Rhino kills one in zoo

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| Friday, December 23, 2005 |IN TODAY'S PAPER

 

THE TELEGRAPH

 

 

Rhino kills one in zoo

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Patna, Dec. 22: A casual labourer of Patna zoo was killed this afternoon by a

rhino while cleaning up the cage in the presence of the zoo director.

 

Munari Rai, in his 40’s, was trapped against the wall while being chased by the

rhino inside the cage.

 

Rai, a resident of Rukunpura village in west Patna, was said to be bleeding

profusely through the nose. He was rushed to Patna Medical College and Hospital,

but was declared brought dead.

 

“The rhino had been brought from Delhi about three months ago and had not been

fully tamed,” said Rakesh Kumar, director of the Sanjay Gandhi Botanical Garden.

 

The director said he had sent in four workers to clean the cage at about 12 pm

with the caution that the rhino could turn dangerous.

 

Three workers ran and escaped by jumping out from the cage, but a nervous Rai

slipped and fell, and was attacked by the animal in front of the director and a

zoo doctor.

 

Agitated over the incident, the zoo workers said the director should take the

responsibility for Rai’s death and should ensure the victim’s family gets a

compensation of Rs 10 lakh and a job.

 

“The incident is unfortunate. I had told the workers to be careful while being

in the cage. We will try to help his family as much as we can. But because he

was a causal worker, he may not get a full compensation,” Kumar said.

 

2005 The Telegraph.