(IN) Drug addict killed by elephant at Byculla zoo

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Drug-addict-killed-by-elephant-at\

-Byculla-zoo/articleshow/5736917.cms

 

MUMBAI: Serious security concerns were sparked on Sunday after an

unidentified drug addict easily broke into the enclosures where elephants

are kept at the Byculla zoo and got killed by an angry 56-year-old female

elephant.

 

Police said the man was making away with the large metal bolt used to lock

the elephant Laxmi’s enclosure. He accessed the enclosures from a public

lawn inside the zoo’s premises, climbing a wall between the lawn and the

enclosures. No money needs to be paid to use the lawn, where members of the

public often sit and children play cricket.

 

The intruder, who was around 30 years of age, regularly consumed drugs along

with a few other people in the lawn behind the elephant enclosures, said

assistant commissioner Jayant Sarmokadam of the Byculla police. After he

removed the bolt, the elephant wrapped its trunk around him, picked him up

and bashed him against a wall, said witnesses.

 

The man was rushed to JJ Hospital by the zoo staff, but was declared dead

before admission. Preliminary reports said he died due to a skull fracture

and acute bleeding.

 

Byculla police officials said no guard was inside the elephant enclosures at

the time, despite it being a Sunday afternoon, when more people visit the

zoo. Police said they are still investigating if negligence was involved.

 

They have registered an accidental death report and are trying to trace the

kin of the deceased.

 

Incidentally, in 2007, Rajkumar, a male elephant at the zoo, attacked his

keeper and was shifted to Kerala after the Bombay high court ordered that a

mate be found for him. But Dr Sanjay Tripathi, zoo superintendent, said,

“Laxmi is way past her mating age and so the violence was not a result of

lack of mating. Moreover, she didn’t suffer from ‘musth’, a condition that

makes elephants uncontrollable.’’

 

The incident sent shockwaves through tourists visiting the zoo. Mahout Nisar

Ahmed told police that when he was returning from lunch he saw Laxmi

hammering the man. A tourist, who refused to identify himself, said, “The

elephant followed the man, got hold of him with its trunk and banged him

against the wall thrice before throwing him down.’’

Sources said that though the zoo is generally a safe place with security

guards and animal caretakers, it is not safe from drug addicts who often

steal metal from fences and other infrastructure.

 

Veterinary doctor Yuvraj Kaginkar, who is the adviser to the zoo, said, “I

have seen Laxmi closely and, unless someone provokes her, she cannot attack

or harm anyone.’’

 

There is currently another female elephant, 46-year-old Anarkali, in the

zoo. Laxmi and Anarkali are kept in separate enclosures located in a

compound that is bordered by the wall at the back and a deep semi-circular

moat in front.

Veterinarians working with Laxmi said she was a healthy animal who was

showing no signs of mental or physical instability or violent behaviour. “It

was during our lunch hour that the man entered inside. By the time our

security guards reached the spot, the man was very badly injured. We kept

her aside after the incident and examined her, but she seemed stable,’’ said

Dr Sanjay Tripathi, zoo superintendent.

 

Lt Col J C Khanna, who is in charge of the animal hospital in Parel and who

has often treated Laxmi, said the sudden entry into the cage by the man may

have triggered the violent reaction. “During hot weather, animals need at

least 1,000 litres of water per day. Anything out of the ordinary can

trigger a violent reaction. The incident happened in the afternoon, when the

sun is at is peak. She could have been resting, or was tired,’’ he said.

 

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Nilesh Bhanage

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