A TRAINEE vet was mauled to death by a pregnant hippo after she climbed into its enclosure late at night to take its temperature.
Sameeksha Reddy, 27, was carrying out routine checks on animals at the Tavarekoppa Lion and Safari Zoo in Karnataka, India when the horrifying ordeal unfolded.
At around 11.45pm on Thursday night, she climbed into the pregnant hippo’s enclosure and checked it over using a thermal camera.
After completing her checks, the animal suddenly became enraged and charged towards the unsuspecting vet.
Suffering serious injuries, Reddy was rushed to a nearby hospital in the Shivamogga district in critical condition.
Despite the best efforts of staff, she succumbed to her injuries on Friday morning.
Officials confirmed Reddy had suffered internal trauma to her abdomen as well as significant blood loss.
“Samiksha initially went to inspect a sun parakeet and then went to the hippo’s enclosure at 11.45pm,” a zoo official said, as per the Telegraph India.
“She went to assess the hippo’s temperature with a thermal camera. The animal suddenly attacked her.
“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.
Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre offered his condolences to Reddy’s heartbroken family.
“Every life is precious. May God give strength to the family to bear this loss,” he said.
The Minister added that her family would be compensated following the terrible incident.
He also instructed that all veterinarians at zoos across the state must strictly adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) when handling wild animals.
The hippo involved in the attack – named Hamsini – had been relocated to the Shivamogga safari from the Mysuru Zoo almost four years ago.
Due to give birth in the next few days, it had been under close observation.
Reddy’s family members have since questioned why the trainee vet was allowed to be in the enclosure without anyone senior present.
The zoo’s veterinary officer Dr. Murali Manohar said Reddy had been tasked with administering an antibiotic to a bird and not Hamsini.
“She volunteered to treat the bird. She was not assigned to monitor the health of the hippopotamus,” he said.
It remains unclear who asked her to record the animal’s temperature.
An enquiry into the incident, comprising senior veterinarians and forest officials, is currently ongoing.
