JOIN USPilikula mourns as 'Raja' kills caretaker
The ever-lively Pilikula Nisargadhama wore a gloomy look and remained closed on Wednesday after one of its animal caretaker Kushalappa Gowda (36) was killed in a tiger attack on Tuesday evening.
Gowda, who used to feed the tigers, had visited the tiger enclosure to check on ‘Raja,’ Pilikula’s oldest Bengal Tiger who was suffering with diarrhea and was under medication.However, a bold step by Gowda cost his life. In spite of not being not allowed to open the main-gate of the enclosure, Gowda opened it and even opened the gate of the squeezer cage (place where sick tigers are treated) and went inside. Raja, mauled Gowda who died due to extensive bleeding caused by the injury.
It is surprising to note that the tiger did not escape from the enclosure even if the main gate was open. The incident came into light when two other caretakers found the main gate open and saw the tiger sitting in the enclosure passage. They repeatedly called Kushalappa, only to realise that he was lying dead inside the tiger’s cage.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Dr Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Biological Park Director H Jayaprakash Bhandary said that putting the tiger back in the enclosure was a huge task. We had to open another tiger’s enclosure from outside, send that tiger in the open area and put Raja inside the cage.
“Only after that, we could go near Kushalappa’s body. There was blood all over but the tiger had not eaten the body,” points out Bhandary.
“Kushalappa was very friendly with animals. He was a sincere employee. He joined Pilikula in 2004, the same year when tiger's were introduced in Pilikula. He had many interesting experiences and I had also advised him to write a book. His death is a great loss," says Bhandary.
‘Pili Kushala’
"We used to call him Pili-Kushala. He was a jolly fellow," recalled Chetan, who is Gowda's neighbour in his hometown Kalinja in Vittal. He was a courageous man and always in the fore-front, he adds.
Gowda's brother-in-law Uday said that Gowda was a bachelor and had toiled hard to marry off his four sisters. Recentlty, he showed interest in marrying and told us to find a suitable match. "I never thought that he would be killed by a tiger. He had a very good knack with animals," he adds.
Kushalappa is survived by his mother Revathi, father Shivappa Gowda and four sisters.
One of the workers from the zoo says that Kushalappa was supposed to visit his father on Monday evening. However, he stayed back as Raja was keeping ill. He was supposed to leave on Wednesday evening, but god has his own plans, he says. He also points out that Kushalappa had a peaceful look on his face even at his death. You feel like he is smiling, he adds.
Compensation
Kushalappa's family will receive Rs 1 lakh as compensation from Pilikula Nisargadhama and another Rs 1 lakh from his insurance. The Deputy Commissioner has also assured to request for compensation from CM's fund, said Bhandary.
Pilikula Nisargadhama was not open for the public on Wednesday due to the tragic incident. An Aaati festival which was supposed to be held on Wednesday was cancelled.The postmortem of Kushalappa's mortal remains was held at Wenlock hospital. The funeral ceremony was held in his hometown Kalinja. A case has been filed in Kavoor police station.