Forest Minister Mama Natung visits zoo after tigress mauls an animal attendant

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Environment & Forest Minister Mama Natung on Wednesday visited the Biological Park Itanagar to take stock of the incident of a death of an animal attendant who was mauled by a Royal Bengal tigress on Tuesday.

35-year-old zoo attendant Poulash Karmakar, a native of Dhekiajuli in Assam's Lakhimpur district was killed by 'Chippi', the tigress when he was entering her cage to clean the water pond.

Natung accompanied by PCCF & Principal Secretary R K Singh, PCCF (Wildlife) G Kumar and other senior officers of the department rushed to the zoo Wednesday morning to take stock of the situation on ground.

He visited the cage where the incident occurred, interacted and inquired with the zoo officials, particularly with the animal attendants in length.

The minister observed that the incident could be a case of negligence on the part of Karmakar. However, he directed the PCCF & Principal Secretary (E&F) to constitute a five member committee and submit the fact finding report within a week for submission to the state government, an official communiqué informed.

Natung offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved family of Karmakar and expressed his sadness over the loss of a precious life. He also promised to help the family of the deceased with the ex-gratia amount as per existing norms of the state government and to provide employment to one of the eligible persons of the family.

'Chippi' was rescued as an orphan along with another tiger 'Ipra' when they were around eight months old from Anini in Dibang Valley district. They were shifted to the Biological Park in 2013 and staying in the zoo since then.

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