- A 27-year-old veterinarian, Samiksha Reddy, died after a hippopotamus attack at a safari in Shivamogga.
- She was conducting thermal scanning on a pregnant hippo when the animal suddenly lunged, causing severe injuries.
- Authorities have ordered a probe and reinforced safety protocols following the tragic inc
A 27-year-old veterinary officer died in a tragic incident on duty following an attack by a hippopotamus at Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Safari in Shivamogga, Karnataka late Thursday night.
Dr. Samiksha Reddy was assigned with the duty of thermal scanning for a pregnant hippo around 11.45 p.m., when the animal unexpectedly advanced and lunged after the scanning process was completed, causing severe injuries.
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Immediately, she was rushed to a hospital in Shivamogga where the hospital declared her critical and performed surgery, but on Friday morning she succumbed to her injuries. The hospital officials confirmed that she suffered blood loss and severe internal injuries, causing her death.
Her family reached the hospital in grief and devastation as Samiksha was the only daughter of businessman Dhruva Kumar and Shailaja, who reside in Sakalavara near Bengaluru's Bannerghatta. The sudden death of their daughter has left her family in shock.
She had completed her veterinary degrees in Bengaluru and Shivamogga, and joined the safari this past February, selected for specialised wildlife training. She was dedicated to her responsibility for the last six weeks at the safari.
The hippo, which was transferred from Mysuru Zoo to the Shivamogga safari roughly four years ago, had been under heightened surveillance due to its pregnancy at the time of the incident.
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The Forest Department has ordered all zoo veterinarians to strictly follow established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) during wildlife treatments, a high-level mandate triggered by the recent tragic death. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has ordered a probe into the fatal hippopotamus attack and formed a specialised task force, comprising forest officials and senior veterinarians at the Tyavarekoppa Zoo.
The committee has been tasked with delivering a comprehensive report within a seven-day window to pinpoint any breaches in safety protocols during the late-night medical examination.
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