BENGALURU: A 12-year-old boy who was on a leopard safari with his family in Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) on Friday afternoon, was injured in a chance encounter with a leopard.
The boy had kept his hand outside the meshed non-AC safari bus, when a leopard in the safari enclosure attempted to climb on to the bus, and gripped the boy’s arm with its paw. The boy suffered minor wounds due to the animal’s claws, BBMP staffers said.
The leopard did not attack the boy, and neither was the boy aware of the leopard’s movements, a staffer who was on duty told TNIE.
Onlookers raised an alarm and the safari bus was immediately brought back to the head office. The boy was rushed to the nearest hospital in Jigani and given immediate medical attention. A medico-legal case was registered against the BBP management.
BBP executive director AV Surya Sen said all precautions are being taken to cover the windows of buses with mesh, including camera slots. Strict instructions have also been given to drivers operating non-AC safari buses to be alert and cautious. The matter is being probed, he added.
Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister Eshwar B Khandre expressed concern and directed the BBP management to ensure that all parts of the buses, including photography slots, are well meshed. He instructed BBP staffers to take additional precautionary measures and strictly warn all tourists, and also ensure that tickets are printed with precautions.
WHILE ON SAFARI, DON’T
Wave or shout to attract animals
Put hand or face out of vehicle
Feed or tease animals
Wear bright clothes