Staff Reports
In a shocking and tragic turn of events, a hardworking zoo staffer at the Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, also known as Lucknow Zoo, in Uttar Pradesh, India, was ruthlessly attacked and killed by a hippopotamus. The poor man, identified as Suraj, was merely trying to do his job and clean the hippo’s enclosure when the ferocious beast broke free from its confines and gruesomely ended his life.
This is a clear case of a hard-working individual being put in harm’s way due to the negligence of those in charge. It is truly a shame that someone like Suraj, who had dedicated 12 years of his life to the zoo, would meet such a terrible fate due to someone else’s incompetence. The loss of life is always tragic, but it hits even harder when it could have been prevented.
Hippo attacks and kills zookeeper who entered enclosure to clean it https://t.co/pa8OCBRydQ pic.twitter.com/VzeNrZijyV
— New York Post (@nypost) December 18, 2023
The reckless decision to transfer the hippo to Lucknow Zoo from another wildlife park just a few weeks ago clearly played a role in this senseless tragedy. The handling of such dangerous animals should be taken very seriously, but someone dropped the ball in this situation. This is a clear example of the disastrous consequences that can arise from poor decision-making and lack of attention to detail.
Lucknow Zoo’s director, Aditi Sharma, has promised a thorough investigation into this horrific incident, and one can only hope that justice will be served to the fullest extent. The loss of Suraj has left behind a grieving wife and two children, and it is absolutely imperative that those responsible for this grave error are held accountable. The safety and well-being of zoo staff should be of the utmost importance, and swift and decisive action must be taken to prevent such appalling incidents in the future.
In the meantime, thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Suraj, as well as to his injured colleague and the entire zoo community. This heartbreaking event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can exist in working with wild animals and the absolute necessity of proper safety protocols and caution. It is a tragic day when a hardworking individual loses their life due to the negligence of others, and it is a day that should never be forgotten or repeated.
