The Delhi Zoo is installing better fencing after a 20-year-old man was killed by a tiger when he fell or jumped into its enclosure on Tuesday.
According to Yahoo India, the young man, known only as Maqsood at this time, was cornered and attacked by the tiger, Vijay, with a preliminary autopsy showing he died of asphyxiation. Six deep wounds were found on the left side of Maqsood's neck. The tiger picked up and dragged the victim's body using its mouth, but did not eat any part of him.
Maqsood was married, and it's been reported that his pregnant wife is now in Kolkata.
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It is still a matter of debate whether the man fell or jumped into the tiger's enclosure, but it is clear that the fence surrounding the pit is very short — only waist high on most adults — making either possible. Many onlookers tried to help Maqsood by yelling at the tiger and pelting it with sticks and stones, but R.A. Khan, a curator at the National Zoological Park, said that might have enraged the tiger, making it more likely to attack.
"People are saying that we could have tranquilized the tiger, but they should know that it takes 15 minutes for the animal to become unconscious. The entire incident happened in just about five minutes," he said Wednesday. "It is being said that we had 10 or 15 minutes to respond, but the latest video shows that it all happened in just 2.25 minutes."
Vijay the tiger was moved to a private enclosure away from the public following the attack.
"Vijay was born and bred here and in all these years he has never shown any signs of aggression. It is absolutely wrong to call him a man-eater," said Khan.
The Indian Express reported Thursday that Central Zoo Authority directed the zoo to install additional wire-fencing around the enclosure, and is investigating the safety of other exhibits.
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