Attacks a routine affair for BBP's lion-hearted animal keepers

The attack on an animal keeper by two lions at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) on Monday has again exposed how these caretakers are prone to such attacks in the absence of adequate safety measures at the park.

Every animal keeper at BBP’s safaris and rescue centres has a story to tell about an animal attack he has suffered. As the injuries are not grievous, they go unnoticed even by the BBP authorities.
Monday’s incident was in one of the old animal holding houses. It needs upgrading and lacks the necessary locking system. Despite animal keepers demanding that the BBP authorities should have in place necessary systems, the authorities have ignored their pleas.

Over 240 animal keepers
There are over 240 animal keepers working round the clock at the BBP. They are getting meagre wages ranging from Rs 5,000 to 10,000 per month. Though the animal keepers have been demanding that their jobs be regularised and their pay increased, their requests have not been heeded by the government.

Prabhakar (name changed), an animal keeper, says that he has been bitten by a lion, a tiger and even a sloth bear.

“I have been bitten by these wild animals many times, but BBP authorities have not helped me. Many of my fellow animal keepers have been suffering from pain due to the injuries inflicted on them by the animals, but they relentlessly work without complaining,” he added.

Recent attack

Recently, an animal keeper was attacked by Sundar, the elephant that was shifted from Maharashtra to Bannerghatta, following orders by the Bombay High Court.
The BBP authorities have not done much to help this animal keeper and he is still suffering, sources said.

Every animal keeper in the park has been injured or bitten by the wild animals and are suffering from the side effects.

According to sources, there has been no proper vaccination given to these animal keepers. It was just three months ago that these animal keepers were administered anti-rabies vaccination. Sources said that unless the animal keeper suffers from grievous injuries, the BBP authorities do not bother to check on his health. They do not understand that only if the animal keeper is healthy and happy will the animals in BBP will be taken care of properly.

Rehana Banu, chairperson, Zoo Authority of Karnataka, said that she was aware about the animal keepers’ problems. She is expected to have a meeting with them on March 18.
“Regularisation of jobs is guided by the cadre and recruitment rules and that has to be decided by the government. But, we can think of increasing the wages of these animal keepers,” Banu said.