Unlike earlier, when people used to easily scale over the compound wall and get into the safari park, the Nehru Zoological Park is now out of bounds for trespassers. Two people were mauled by tigers in 1994 and 1999 when they entered the safari park from Arshmahal Colony.
In 2000, a tigress Sakhi was killed and skinned by some persons who entered the safari through the Miralam Tank side. A property offender, Mohd. Salahuddin, was caught for his involvement in the case five years later.
“There has been no major incident for the last 15 years. It means people are more careful and stop their children from going closer to the safari park,” says Ghouse, a resident. Arshmahal slum runs alongside the boundary wall of the zoo and is inhabited by a few hundred families. Following the previous incidents of children and youngsters entering into the safari park, the authorities had planned to relocate a few families. However, they backed off the proposal after stiff opposition from residents. Instead, compound walls were raised and concertina wire erected to stop the people, especially teenagers, from entering the premises.
The incidents also prompted the police to increase their vigil in the area. “Our patrolling teams also keep a watch in the area. Time and again we have asked the elders in the locality to counsel the youngsters against daredevilry,” Inspector Rajendranagar S. Venkat Reddy said.
