A 38-year-old man tragically lost his life at Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park in Tirupati, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The man, identified as Prahlad Gujjar, originally from Alwar district in Rajasthan, was mauled by a lion while trying to take a selfie with the animal.
According to reports, Gujjar climbed over the lion's two-meter-high fence, getting too close to the animal. The lion, feeling threatened, instinctively attacked the man, killing him instantly.
The accident was captured by the surveillance cameras of the zoo, which allowed the staff to alert emergency services. Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
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Police officer Mallika Garg, who reached the spot, told the media: "It's currently unclear whether the man was drunk or not. Only an autopsy will be able to confirm this. However, all investigative hypotheses currently converge toward this hypothesis."
The man, perhaps drunk, had climbed over the lion's cage
Garg also specified that the lion, after having mauled the victim, remained next to the body until the tamers arrived and moved it away to allow the recovery of the body.
This incident, unfortunately not an isolated one, highlights the importance of respecting safety rules in zoos. It's essential to maintain a safe distance from animals and never cross fences.
The Prahlad Gujjar tragedy serves as a warning to all zoo visitors: the pursuit of a sensational shot is never worth the risk of putting one’s life at risk.
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