Man Jumps into Lion’s Enclosure, But What Happens Next is Surprising

Indian zoos have a history of shocking incidents involving inebriated men jumping into the enclosures of wild cats. However, most cases did not end well except for one brave man from Rajasthan working in Hyderabad. An intoxicated Mukesh Kumar, transformed into a superhero by virtue of liquor, decided he would shake the hand of a lion to prove his mettle. The outcome wasn’t exactly what he expected. Read on to watch the video within this article.

A Shocking Incident in Hyderabad

The incident occurred on a regular Tuesday afternoon in May 2016; visitors at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad witnessed an alarming event that left everyone stunned and anxious. They could not believe their eyes when a man jumped into the enclosure of two African lions.

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The Culprit: Mukesh Kumar

Mukesh Kumar, a 35-year-old man from Bihar, was heavily intoxicated when he decided to leap into the lion enclosure. The man, a Metro Rail worker, decided he needed to do something extraordinary. Unfortunately, the difference between exceptional and foolhardy was lost on him.

The Bizarre Scene

The zoo was bustling with families and children when Mukesh, after consuming alcohol, made his way to the lion exhibit. Ignoring the danger signs and barriers, he climbed over the railing and jumped into the enclosure.

Close Encounter with Lions

The lion exhibit housed two African lions, one male and one female. Mukesh’s unexpected arrival startled the lions. There have been other cases where lions in Indian zoos reacted promptly thinking they were being served up a live human for supper, but in Mukesh’s case, he ended up very lucky. The lions were not reacting.

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Witnesses React

Visitors, including children, screamed in terror as they watched Mukesh Walk towards the lions. Some began recording the incident on their phones, while others shouted at him to retreat.

Zoo Authorities Spring into Action

Zoo staff were quick to respond. On being alerted, they rushed to the scene and immediately began strategizing on how to rescue Mukesh without provoking the lions.

Mukesh’s Miraculous Escape

Remarkably, Mukesh remained unscathed throughout his ordeal. The lions, seemingly more curious than aggressive, did not harm him. They sniffed at him and decided he wasn’t worth the hassle. Presumably, the scent of liquor put them off. Unlike humans, animals don’t like their food served with wine.

The Lions were Bored.

It seems the lions were bored or most probably felt Mukesh was just another fool tired of life. The lions may have also been well fed and a second drunken man was not a good dessert fit for the king of the jungle. Antelope maybe? But a human stinking of local liquor? No way! While the interaction between Mukesh and the lions continued, the zookeepers used their training and experience to divert the lions’ attention and coax Mukesh back to safety.

The Rescue Operation

Zoo officials managed to use a tranquilizer gun to temporarily subdue the lions, giving them the opportunity to rescue Mukesh from the enclosure. The entire rescue operation was a relaxed one since the lions did not show much interest. nevertheless, it was handled with utmost care to ensure no harm came to either Mukesh or the lions.

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Jail Time

Post-rescue, Mukesh was arrested and taken to the nearby Bahadurpura police station, where he underwent a medical examination and was questioned about his actions. He was served a short sentence for reckless behavior, which not only endangered his life but also the lives of the zoo staff and visitors. Authorities considered pressing additional charges for trespassing and public intoxication.

Zoo Safety Measures

This incident prompted the Nehru Zoological Park to reassess and strengthen its safety measures. Increased surveillance and higher barriers were among the improvements implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.

Public Reactions

The incident sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many criticizing Mukesh’s irresponsible behavior. Some applauded the quick response of the zoo staff, while others called for stricter regulations to prevent such occurrences.

Not the First Time

This was not the first incident of drunken men jumping into wildcat enclosures in India. In 1996, two men in a drunken stupor decided to jump into the enclosure of the famed Bengal tiger Shiva. They felt that if they garlanded the tiger, they would be blessed with prosperity. Shiva answered the wishes of one by sending him to meet his maker. The other was not so lucky and instead was admitted to hospital for severe injuries. Shiva was not put down.

Youth Mauled by Tiger in Delhi Zoo.

In 2014, another incident made headline news when a youth entered the enclosure of a white tiger at Delhi Zoo. The youth jumped down a 20-foot wall and into the dry moat surrounding the enclosure. Before officials could react, Vijay, the tiger, sniffed the man seen pleading with the tiger, hands folded.  Before officials could react, Vijay had killed the man. A few days later, the zoo authorities issued a notice saying the tiger was no man-eater and had acted out of threat and fear. It chose not to take any action and instead monitored the tiger.

Conclusion

Mukesh Kumar’s daring and reckless act of jumping into a lion enclosure while drunk is a stark reminder of the importance of respecting wildlife and adhering to safety regulations. The quick and effective response of the Nehru Zoological Park staff ensured a potentially tragic incident had a safe conclusion. None of the animals involved in such incidents in India were put down because the fault wasn’t theirs. What do you think? Who is at fault? Lax security around enclosures?   Animal stress? Or are just foolish people acting recklessly?

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