“They had to find a person to be blamed for the tiger deaths and I became that 'scapegoat'. I was never even involved in the treatment procedures of those tigers which were infected by the bacteria as I was only in charge of those animals from the rescue centre," Basavarajappa told Deccan Herald.
Except for one day when he was instructed by Dr Chittiappa to inject antibiotic drugs to tigers Minchu, Inchara and Rocky, he was never involved in the treatment of the tigers. Hence, it was “very unfair” of the BBP to terminate him without assigning reasons, the vet said.
He said that the BBP officers and doctors did not pay heed when the tigers began suffering from diarrhoea. Even when four-year-old tigress Divya died, the authorities never consulted him for any suggestion in treatment procedures for the tigers.
In fact, along with 18 tigers at the Safari, many animals from the rescue centre too suffered from diarrhoea. These animals were treated by him where they had recovered quickly after one dose of antibiotics.
He said he was working in the BBP since 1991 and a similar diarrhoea attack had occurred among tigers in 1996 where he singlehandedly treated all the animals. However, this time he was not even consulted for any suggestion in the treatment procedures.
Dr Basarajappa was called back by the BBP after a vet had died due to an elephant attack in 2007.
Even though he was retired, he resumed work on contract basis and was paid Rs 20,000 per month.
The BBP felt that Basavarajappa was "less responsible" in his work and should be relieved from his services as vet; he was apparently given a termination letter from the BBP.
