A worker at a zoo in India was attacked and killed by a hippopotamus after entering the animal\u2019s enclosure to clean it Monday.<\/p>\n
The deadly animal attack took place at Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, better known as Lucknow Zoo, in Uttar Pradesh, where a 40-year-old zoo staffer, identified only as Suraj, ventured into the hippo enclosure along with a colleague to perform a scheduled cleaning, reported Indian Express.<\/p>\n
The hippopotamus was supposed to be locked in a cage during regular enclosure maintenance, but the hulking mammal somehow got out and charged at Suraj, killing him on the spot.<\/p>\n
Suraj had worked at the zoo for about 12 years, and had been trained in cleaning facilities and feeding animals.<\/p>\n
He is survived by his wife and two children, a son and daughter.<\/p>\n
The other zookeeper, identified as Raju, was injured in the hippo attack but survived and was hospitalized in a stable condition.<\/p>\n
Lucknow Zoo director Aditi Sharma said the hippopotamus was immediately locked up, and no other injuries were reported.<\/p>\n
The incident happened on a day when the zoo was closed to visitors.<\/p>\n
The hippo had been transferred to Lucknow from a zoo in Kanpur just a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n
A zoo official speculated that the hippo enclosure may not have been properly secured during the cleaning.<\/p>\n
Sharma promised a thorough investigation into the deadly incident, saying that \u201cif there is any mistake, it will be rectified,\u201d reported the Hindustan Times.<\/p>\n
The sprawling Lucknow Zoo, which was founded in 1921, houses more than 1,000 animals from some 104 species, including lions, tigers, bears and hyenas.<\/p>\n