2 months ago
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The tragic decease of Sameeksha Reddy, veterinary apprentice, astatine Tyavarekoppa Tiger and Lion Safari successful Shivamogga, has brought to airy aggregate superior shortcomings successful handling chaotic animals and unit information astatine the zoo.
Reddy was attacked by a large hippopotamus connected March 19 portion connected duty, and aboriginal she succumbed to injuries. She had joined the zoo for an apprenticeship programme on with her person Merin Mariya Neel, besides a nonmigratory of Bengaluru. Within days aft starting the programme, some young veterinarians identified respective captious deficiencies astatine the zoo infirmary and brought them to the announcement of the administration.
On leave
Dr. Neel, who has been connected permission since her colleague’s death, elaborate a bid of issues successful her connection pursuing the incident. Among the problems she listed see non-availability of drinking h2o astatine the zoo hospital. Both raised aggregate complaints during the meetings, however, they received nary response.
After the tragic incident, Dr. Neel wrote to the Executive Director of the zoo that she was successful nary authorities of caput to proceed moving astatine the place. She is presently connected permission till March 31. When The Hindu contacted her connected Friday, Dr. Neel said she confirmed that she was connected permission and had not yet decided whether to resume the grooming programme.
Complaints
The trainees had small enactment from the medication portion treating the animals. They had to repeatedly petition officers to nonstop carnal keepers for their safety. In February, Reddy sent a connection to the medication highlighting the deficiency of information measures for the veterinarians and she often had to ‘beg for much antheral power’ to assistance during procedures. The trainees besides flagged the lack of indispensable infrastructure astatine the infirmary including cognition theatre tables, due lighting and a functional sink. They further complained astir rats eating the provender stored successful vertebrate cages.
No payment
Both the veterinarians were hired for apprenticeship with a stipend of ₹649 per day. However, they had not got the outgo truthful far, contempt repeated requests, with the medication citing procedural delays. They besides faced difficulties successful obtaining leave. According to Dr. Neel’s statement, erstwhile Reddy requested menstrual permission via substance message, the Executive Director asked her to conscionable him astatine his bureau for approval.
Veterinary serviceman Murali Manohor, moving connected contractual basis, resigned from his station successful November 2025. It is said that helium excessively had cited the deficiency of facilities astatine the infirmary and zoo aggregate times.
Dr. Neel, successful her statement, noted that the officer, nether whom they were being trained, was moving nether unit adjacent aft submitting his resignation.
Report
V.M. Amarakshara, the Executive Director of the zoo, said that helium hired the 2 veterinarians for apprenticeship programme, which was portion of the recruitment process. “Candidates with veterinary degrees often person small acquisition of handling wildlife. Hence, we devised a program to prosecute 2 candidates for apprenticeship connected a stipend and aboriginal enlistee 1 of them arsenic veterinary officer,” helium said.
Regarding the allegation of asking the veterinarian to conscionable him to get support for menstrual leave, the serviceman said that helium received petition for permission during moving hours. “The trainee had asked for 4 days leave, including the menstrual leave. Since she was portion of a structured grooming programme with a circumstantial regular docket and syllabus, I spoke to her and granted leave,” helium said.
Following Reddy’s death, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre asked elder officers to clasp an probe and taxable a report. K.T. Hanumanthappa, Chief Conservator of Forests of Shivamogga Circle, conducted the probe and submitted his study to his section connected Thursday. The serviceman collected accusation from Mr. Amarakshara, Dr. Manohar, and different unit connected work astatine the zoo.
Meanwhile, the Shivamogga police, who registered an unnatural decease report, are besides investigating the case.
