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Lucknow : In a Tragic incident at Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden on Monday morning, a 20-year-old adult hippopotamus named Indira fatally attacked 45-year-old cleaner Suraj Dhanuk. The incident occurred around 10:30 am while Dhanuk was conducting regular cleaning inside the hippo’s enclosure.
Zoo director Aditi Sharma provided details, stating that Dhanuk, a contract employee and senior keeper, entered the enclosure despite the established protocol. The protocol mandates the relocation of animals, such as hippos, to a separate part of the enclosure, typically a locked cell at the back during cleaning. However, it was revealed that on this unfortunate Monday, the cell “may not have been locked properly.”
Hippos, known for their natural aggressiveness and surprising speed, pose a significant threat due to their formidable size and sharp teeth. All zoo enclosures undergo cleaning on Mondays when the facility is closed to visitors.
Dhanuk, a dedicated cleaner with a decade of experience at the zoo, met a tragic end, and the cause of death—whether by goring, biting, or trampling—remains uncertain pending a detailed post-mortem examination.
The keeper who was also present in the enclosure managed to escape by jumping over the railing and raised an alarm. Prompt response from other staff members led to the hippo being safely confined to the cell. Dhanuk was swiftly transported to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee hospital, but despite efforts, he was declared dead on arrival.
Zoo director Aditi Sharma, who arrived at the scene at 10:55 am, expressed sorrow over the incident, mentioning that precautions were taken, and the unfortunate outcome will be thoroughly investigated. Dr. RK Srivastava from Civil Hospital highlighted the need for a detailed post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
As of now, the police are yet to file a case, and the body will be handed over to the family after completing the autopsy, according to Arvind Kumar Verma, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hazratganj.
The hippopotamus, Indira, was recently transferred to Lucknow Zoo from Allen Forest Zoo in Kanpur in November. The zoo has announced plans for a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.
