It was a black Thursday for Vandalur zoo managers, on September 21, 2000, when a leopard mauled a 45-year-old woman who cleaned the enclosure the animal was kept in.
Recalling the incident, wildlife authorities said there were a total of five enclosures, and the leopard was housed in one of them. Two women cleaned two enclosures each.
Around 10.30 a.m., when Valliammal entered one of the enclosures, the leopard, Vijayan, pushed past the side gate and attacked her. She died instantly.
The incident was a result of the cleaner’s negligence, said a zoo official.
Following this, however, zoo authorities brought in regulations for cleaning of the zoo in the morning.
On humanitarian grounds, the State government provided employment to Valliammal’s son, said zoo authorities.
