A female vet was mauled to death by an enraged pregnant hippo after she climbed into its zoo enclosure to take its temperature.
Sameeksha Reddy, 27, had been carrying out a temperature check on the animal at the Tavarekoppa Lion and Safari Zoo in Karnataka, India, on Thursday night when tragedy struck.
After conducting a routine check-up on a Sun Conure bird at 10.30pm, she went to attend to the pregnant 15-year-old hippo at around 11.45pm using a thermal camera.
According to local reports, the animal, named Hamsini, unexpectedly charged at the young vet after the scanning process was completed, inflicting catastrophic injuries.
Ms Reddy was rushed to a private hospital in the Shivamogga district in a critical condition, but despite the efforts of the medical team, she succumbed to her injuries on Friday morning.
Medical officials confirmed that the vet suffered severe internal trauma to her abdomen and significant blood loss, which ultimately led to her passing.
According to the safari zoo officials, the hippo was due for delivery within a few days.
‘Samiksha initially went to inspect a sun parakeet and then went to the hippo’s enclosure at 11.45pm. She went to assess the hippo’s temperature with a thermal camera. The animal suddenly attacked her,’ a zoo official said, as per the Telegraph India.
Sameeksha Reddy, 27, had been carrying out a temperature check on the animal at the Tavarekoppa Lion and Safari Zoo in Karnataka, India , on Thursday night when tragedy struck
Medical officials confirmed that the vet suffered severe internal trauma to her abdomen and significant blood loss, which ultimately led to her passing
Footage from the site showed the hippo in the zoo pond with the temperature device nearby
‘She suffered severe injuries and heavy blood loss, which left her unconscious.
‘The zoo staff rushed her to a private hospital in Shivamogga, but she died on Friday morning,’ the official added.
Calling it an unfortunate incident, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said the government stands with Ms Reddy’s family during this difficult time.
‘Every life is precious. May God give strength to the family to bear this loss,’ he said.
He directed officials to provide compensation to the family following the incident.
Khandre also instructed that veterinarians at all zoos in the state must strictly follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) while treating wild animals.
He further ordered an inquiry into the incident by a team consisting of senior veterinarians and forest officials, and directed that a report be submitted within seven days.
The hippo involved in the attack had been relocated to the Shivamogga safari from the Mysuru Zoo nearly four years ago and was under close observation due to its pregnancy.
