A pregnant hippo killed a trainee veterinarian when she climbed into his enclosure to take his temperature late at night.
Samiksha Reddy, 27, was doing a routine check on the animals at the Tavarekopa Lion and Safari Zoo in Karnataka, India, when the horrific incident came to light.
Around 11.45 pm on Thursday night, she climbed into the pregnant hippo’s enclosure and examined it with a thermal camera.
After completing his investigation, the animal suddenly became angry and started attacking the veterinarian without thinking.
Reddy, who suffered serious injuries, was taken to a nearby hospital in Shivamogga district in a critical condition.
Despite the best efforts of the staff, he succumbed to his injuries on Friday morning.
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Officials confirmed that Reddy suffered internal trauma to the abdomen as well as severe bleeding.
“Sameeksha initially went to inspect a sun parakeet and then went to the hippo enclosure at 11.45 pm,” a zoo official said, according to Telegraph India.
“She had gone to assess the hippo’s temperature with a thermal camera. The animal suddenly attacked her.
“She suffered serious injuries and bled heavily, leaving her unconscious.”
“Zoo staff took him to a private hospital in Shivamogga, but he died on Friday morning,” the official said.
Karnataka Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre expressed his condolences to Reddy’s bereaved family.
He said, “Every life is precious. May God give the family strength to bear this loss.”
The minister said that his family will be compensated after this terrible incident.
He also directed that all veterinarians in zoos across the state should strictly follow the standard operating procedures (SOP) while handling wild animals.
The hippo involved in the attack – named Hamsini – was shifted from Mysuru Zoo to Shivamogga Safari about four years ago.
due to giving birth in next This was strictly monitored for a few days.
Reddy’s family members have since questioned why the trainee veterinarian was allowed to stay in the enclosure without any senior presence.
Dr Murali Manohar, the zoo’s veterinary officer, said Reddy was entrusted with the task of administering antibiotics to a bird, and not to Hamsini.
“He treated the bird voluntarily. He was not tasked with monitoring the health of the hippopotamus,” he said.
It is unclear who asked him to record the animal’s temperature.
The investigation into the incident is currently underway in the presence of senior veterinarians and forest officials.
