Experts to help streamline safety set-up at Bannerghatta

Authorities at the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) plan to consult experts on better management of its safari.

This follows a ferocious fight between Royal Bengal tigers and white tigers at the park recently.

Following a security breach during safari on September 16, two white tigers sneaked through the gates separating the enclosures of Royal Bengal tigers and white tigers.

The BBP management will discuss the matter with officials from Zoo Authority of Karnataka during their two-day visit to BBP this week. It is the only zoo in the state which has a safari.

Santosh Kumar, BBP Executive Director, admitted that the incident occurred because of callousness of the staffers.

The condition of the injured white tiger Amar is improving. He had injured his jaw and paw. He also suffered injuries near his spine.

“Though the staff has been directed not to entertain tourists, there have been instances where accidents have happened when animal-keepers try to please tourists for tips. We serve notices to such staffers, but it has little impact. There have been instances in which the keepers, to earn some extra bucks, make animals do stunts (especially elephants). This is risky,” said another BBP official.

“Such acts are often committed by temporary staffers. Permanent employees have the fear of losing their job and cut in salary. In fact, we are at a disadvantage as there is a constant fear of employees going on strike at a time when there is staff shortage,” the official said.

In September last year, lion Dharma had pounced on a safari vehicle, when the driver had stopped the car to show the animal to visitors.

The repeated noise of switching the car engine on and off had excited the lion.

There have been instances where sloth bears have jumped over the walls of the park and escaped. The last such incident occurred in January 2016. The following month, a leopard, which was captured from Vibgyor school and housed in the BBP rescue centre, had escaped.