What could have been done to prevent the horrific death of the Maqsood, the 20-year-old man who was mauled to death by a white tiger at Delhi Zoo on Tuesday? Not much, say authorities and wildlife experts. They argue that though Indian zoo take pains to spread awareness that animals must not be annoyed or in any way pestered with, but many visitors insist on doing so anyway.
“There are sign boards at the entrance and outside the cages of the animals that clearly list rules about not touching or entering cages or compounds where the animals are kept,” said Bindiya Sehgal, a member of Wildlife SOS, an animal rescue organisation. “Defying these rules, if someone enters an animal’s compound he is doing it at his own risk. The authorities cannot be held responsible for that young boy’s stupidity.”
(Warning: graphic video.)
Despite being stopped by a security guard twice from jumping in, Maqsood did it anyway, when the guard’s attention was on other visitors. His father later claimed that the young man was mentally ill.
He is by no means the only zoo visitor to defy regulations. This happens all over the country with alarming regularity.
There have been at least six tiger attacks in Indian zoos over the last eight years, at least two of them involving men entering the enclosures when drunk. At least two other cases also involved men climbing into tiger cages, ostensible sober.
Other infringements
Animals are mistreated in zoos across India, said Vidya Athreya, a research associate at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
“People in this country don’t deserve zoos,” she said. “Instead of experiencing the wonder of the wildlife, most visitors mock them, throw stones at them violate rules and give them things to eat which they should not,” she said.
The most important step to maintaining zoo safety is teaching visitors to mend their ways. This only comes when zoo visitors in India show compassion to the captive animals, and refrain from entering the compounds of any creatures, let alone dangerous ones.
“People are aware that entering a tiger’s cave will have fatal consequences, irrespective of the fact that whether they are educated or not and whether there is enough awareness campaigns around it,” Athreya added.
Additional measures
But zoo authorities can take a few measures to ensure safety.
Jaisal Singh, a wildlife activist, suggests that zoos in India install really loud alarm systems next to the tiger cages. The sound will alert the authorities that something is amiss and also perhaps cause the animal to retreat.
“Zoos may not have officials ready with tranquilizer guns 24x7, in case such an incident happens again,” Singh said. “So a really loud alarm could help. Zoos should also have really tall fencing that the visitors cannot climb, especially to guard compounds of ferocious animals, since people will continue to be foolish and attempt to get up close with tigers, bears and so on.”
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“There are sign boards at the entrance and outside the cages of the animals that clearly list rules about not touching or entering cages or compounds where the animals are kept,” said Bindiya Sehgal, a member of Wildlife SOS, an animal rescue organisation. “Defying these rules, if someone enters an animal’s compound he is doing it at his own risk. The authorities cannot be held responsible for that young boy’s stupidity.”
(Warning: graphic video.)
Despite being stopped by a security guard twice from jumping in, Maqsood did it anyway, when the guard’s attention was on other visitors. His father later claimed that the young man was mentally ill.
He is by no means the only zoo visitor to defy regulations. This happens all over the country with alarming regularity.
There have been at least six tiger attacks in Indian zoos over the last eight years, at least two of them involving men entering the enclosures when drunk. At least two other cases also involved men climbing into tiger cages, ostensible sober.
Other infringements
Animals are mistreated in zoos across India, said Vidya Athreya, a research associate at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
“People in this country don’t deserve zoos,” she said. “Instead of experiencing the wonder of the wildlife, most visitors mock them, throw stones at them violate rules and give them things to eat which they should not,” she said.
The most important step to maintaining zoo safety is teaching visitors to mend their ways. This only comes when zoo visitors in India show compassion to the captive animals, and refrain from entering the compounds of any creatures, let alone dangerous ones.
“People are aware that entering a tiger’s cave will have fatal consequences, irrespective of the fact that whether they are educated or not and whether there is enough awareness campaigns around it,” Athreya added.
Additional measures
But zoo authorities can take a few measures to ensure safety.
Jaisal Singh, a wildlife activist, suggests that zoos in India install really loud alarm systems next to the tiger cages. The sound will alert the authorities that something is amiss and also perhaps cause the animal to retreat.
“Zoos may not have officials ready with tranquilizer guns 24x7, in case such an incident happens again,” Singh said. “So a really loud alarm could help. Zoos should also have really tall fencing that the visitors cannot climb, especially to guard compounds of ferocious animals, since people will continue to be foolish and attempt to get up close with tigers, bears and so on.”