Male leopard ‘Mithun’ dies in flash flood inside Tata zoo

DFO seeks clarification on leopard’s death and safety measures from Director of Tata Zoological Park

Jamshedpur: A male leopard named Mithun reportedly died inside the Tata zoo during the recent flash floods caused by continuous rains.

The leopard’s body was found near the display area around 9.30 pm on 20th August last.

“The rescue team had been searching for the male leopard after its enclosure was inundated in the flash flood. Mithun and its female partner Hema were left in the display area after being served their meal as per practice and safety protocol so that they may climb up on some tree or safer place in case the water level rose in the enclosure. The rescue team of the zoo was keeping constant watch on the leopard couple. Around 7.30 pm, Hema climbed on a tree while Mithun was swimming in the water, struggling to sit at a suitable place due to old age. After around an hour, the rescue team could not locate Mithun and confirmed its death after recovering its body,” sources said.

Mithun was born in August 2005 and was brought to Tata Zoo in November 2007 from Jaldapara Rescue Centre, West Bengal.

The female leopard, Hema, is safe at present and is under vigil for the next 24 hours, sources said.

Jamshedpur DFO Mamata Priyadarshi said today that a clarification has been sought from the Director of Tata Zoological Park.

She said that the leopard was stated to be aged and therefore adequate safety measures should have been put in place.

She said that details on the circumstances of the leopard’s death have been sought and any further comment can be made only after the clarification from the Director of the Zoological Park comes.