Death of trainee vet in hippo attack; Probe to find who asked her to enter enclosure

Trainee veterinary serviceman Dr. Sameeksha Reddy’s decease successful hippopotamus onslaught astatine Tyavarekoppa Tiger and Lion Safari successful Shivanogga has raised galore questions astir the information of veterinarians engaged to dainty chaotic animals. She joined the grooming connected February 1.

The household members, who visited Shivamogga, questioned wherefore the officers astatine the zoo allowed the trainee serviceman to the hippopotamus enclosure connected Thursday (March 19, 2026) nighttime successful the lack of seniors.

Following the incident, Shivamogga Police person registered an unnatural decease report. Ms. Reddy was to travel up attraction of prima conure, a South American bird. As portion of the attraction schedule, she had to administer antibiotic to the hindrance doubly a time with a spread of 12 hours.

According to Dr. Murali Manohar, veterinary serviceman of the zoo, Ms. Reddy was astatine the safari precocious astatine nighttime connected Thursday to administer antibiotic to the bird.

“She volunteered to dainty the bird. She was not assigned to show wellness of hippopotamus”, helium said.

The hippopotamus was eight-month large and it had stopped taking nutrient for past four-five days. “This was rather mean for hippopotamus. I had explained to the trainees astir its nature. However, I had not asked her to dainty the animal.

The trainee serviceman came nether onslaught erstwhile she went to grounds assemblage somesthesia of the carnal utilizing thermal camera”, helium said.

Mr. Murali Manohar said helium had resigned to the station of veterinary serviceman for idiosyncratic reasons successful November 2025 and continued successful the work to bid the caller apprentices.

V.M. Amarakshara, the enforcement manager of the zoo, is besides unaware who asked the trainee to participate the hippopotamus enclosure. “The large chaotic carnal had not moved retired of the pond for a mates of days. Maybe the trainee veterinarian entered the enclosure, believing that the carnal mightiness not travel retired of the h2o body”, helium said.

However, it is not wide who asked her to grounds the somesthesia of the carnal astatine night. “We request to cheque what instructions she had from the veterinary officer. That would beryllium portion of further investigation”, the serviceman stated.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre had ordered a probe into the decease of the trainee, a autochthonal of Bengaluru.