Delhi zoo: Better rescue drill could have saved a precious life

NEW DELHI: The zoo authorities could have taken steps to save Maqsood’s life during the 10 minutes when he sat cowering inside the moat in the front of the tiger. A Central Zoo Authority (CZA) official said the animal could have been kept at bay by spraying water. Maqsood could also have been pulled out with a collapsible ladder, he suggested.
Zoo keepers could have distracted the animal, but senior officials who have the authority of direct them, came to the scene only after 15 minutes, eyewitnesses said.Had the moat, which acts as a barrier, been full of water it would have given Maqsood a few more minutes to plot an escape. The zoo could have also arranged for a tranquilizer gun immediately, though CZA rules don’t allow guards to use one.