SHIVAMOGGA: A newly recruited veterinarian died Friday after a pregnant hippopotamus lunged at her during a routine health check at Shivamogga zoo late Thursday night. Expressing deep sorrow, forest minister Eshwar B Khandre announced Rs 30 lakh in immediate compensation and ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. Zoo director V M Amarakshar said Dr Sameeksha Reddy visited the zoo hospital around 10.30pm Thursday for follow-up treatment of a sun conure, a bird. Around 11.45pm, she entered the enclosure of a pregnant hippo to monitor its temperature using a thermal camera.The animal charged at the doctor and caused critical damage to her liver and lungs. She was rushed to a private hospital where she succumbed to injuries around 6.30am Friday.Dr Muruli Manohar, a former zoo veterinarian, said while he was assisting the young vet, he had not instructed her to approach the hippo at such a late hour.She studied at Veterinary College, Hebbal, and graduated in 2023. She worked as assistant to the Mangaluru Circle wildlife doctor before joining Shivamogga zoo in Feb.Minister Khandre said officials have been instructed to submit their probe report in seven days. Following a complaint from the victim’s father, Dhruva Kumar, a pharmacist, Shivamogga police registered a case of unnatural death.
