In a tragic incident in southern India, a 38-year-old man named Prahlad Gujjar lost his life in a horrifying manner after he leaped into an Asiatic lion’s enclosure. This grievous event unfolded at the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park in Tirupati on February 15, 2024. Gujjar, hailing from Alwar district in Rajasthan, reportedly scaled a 12-foot high fence and plunged into the enclosure, driven by the reckless intent of capturing a selfie with the lion.
The narrative took a grim turn as reports suggest that Gujjar was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Despite the immediate alarm raised by a security guard who noticed his dangerous ascent, Gujjar managed to evade intervention, ultimately finding himself within the lethal grasp of the enclosure’s lions. The security personnel’s efforts were in vain as Gujjar, after dodging them by leaping into a water tank within the enclosure, was subsequently attacked and killed by the lions on the spot.
The aftermath of the attack was as somber as the act itself, with the zoo’s caretakers having to guide the lions into feeding cages to recover Gujjar’s remains. The investigation into this distressing occurrence revealed that Gujjar had traveled from Hyderabad to Tirupati two days prior, leading to speculation about his mental health and the motives behind his fatal decision.
The lion involved in the incident has since been isolated from its usual habitat and placed under close observation by the zoo staff. This incident is not isolated in its nature; it mirrors a similarly tragic event from 2014 in Delhi, where a man was killed by a white tiger after entering its enclosure, again highlighting the critical mental health issues.
This somber tale serves as a stark reminder of the dangerous consequences of disregarding safety measures at wildlife enclosures and the imperative need for awareness regarding mental health and substance abuse.
