A 25-year-old man today jumped into a tiger enclosure in Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park here, but was rescued unhurt by the animal keeper and security guards, officials said



Representational picture

Pune:

A 25-year-old man today jumped into a tiger enclosure in Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park here, but was rescued unhurt by the animal keeper and security guards, officials said.

Shudhodhan Babarao Wankhede scaled the parapet wall of the white tiger enclosure and jumped into it, they added.

Datta Chandane, head of the animal welfare officer at the park recalls, “Wankhande was busy clicking pictures and trying to touch the West Bengal tiger. We warned him. Later, we noticed that he climbed the five feet wall of the cave and jumped in. He tried to touch the tiger as well as click pictures. We immediately alerted the police. We have two entrances for the tigers. He was removed safely and then handed over to the cops."

Dr Rajkumar Jadhav, director of the Zoo said, "Wankhede entered Kaif, the 12-year-old white tiger's cave. Both tigers are kept separately and have different enclosures. Due to past incidents, we have kept strict rules, but Wankede jumped despite repeated attempts to stop him. Our guards managed to intervene and rescue him."

Wankhede was later handed over to the police at Bharti Vidyapeeth police station and the process of registering a case against him was on.

- with inputs from agencies