THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “No time was lost in decision making and the supervisor and a team of around 12 keepers entered the enclosure via the animal house. Within three minutes, they were able to tackle Murugan and drag him out of danger,” the doctor said.
It was the temperament of Gracy that encouraged the zoo authorities take the risk. Murugan has a lot of factors to thank for, the zoo veterinarian Alexander said. Gracy was almost hand-reared after her birth as her mother was very weak and wasn’t lactating.
‘’I used to feed her goat milk and she’s accustomed to humans. She grew up alone not knowing the ways of the wild. Maybe that also helped us today,” he added.
The vet is quick to add that had it been the zoo’s other lion, 18-year-old Ayush, in the enclosure, they wouldn’t have entered it as he is unpredictable and had killed a lioness.
“This was Ayush’s enclosure till a few months back. He was shifted due to health issues,” said the vet.
On noticing Murugan advancing towards Gracy, the guard tried to dissuade him but he kept moving. As some keepers tackled Murugan, some tried to distract Gracy, the superintendent said. “The lioness might have felt perplexed seeing a strange figure advancing towards it on all fours and she started retreating. But Murugan kept advancing,” said the vet. He might have injured himself after the fall and that could be why he was seen advancing on all fours, he added.
“After the Delhi incident of a tiger killing a man, we had raised the height of the iron fence surrounding the enclosure. But he bypassed even that,” said Anilkumar. Murugan might have either jumped over the five feet high fence and jumped into the dry moat or might have entered the moat via the small space which the keepers use to enter the enclosure, the zoo authorities informed.
“When we got him, he was unconscious. He was shifted to the General Hospital for treatment. We haven’t registered any case against him,” said Sunil G, SI, Museum Police station.
Meanwhile, Murugan’s elder brother A Narayanan has been in the city since morning on the fateful day after his brother was traced to Thiruvananthapuram.
“My brother is taking medication for mental ailment. He left home last Sunday saying he was going to a temple, but never returned. We registered a man-missing case and has been inquiring ever since,” said Narayanan. “He’s now stable but doesn’t remember the incident.
We haven’t asked him too. He was lucky to escape unhurt. The doctors have identified a small fracture in hsi leg. They might discharge him on Thursday and we intend to take him to a psychiatrist,”said a relieved Narayanan.