Kolkata zoo enclosures inspected after Delhi death

The Alipore zoo authorities here have stepped up vigilance and are inspecting the security systems surrounding the enclosures following the death of a youth in the Delhi zoo after being mauled by a white tiger Tuesday.

The hair-raising incident was captured live on cameras. The Delhi zoo clarified that the youth had "jumped into the enclosure" and did not slip and fall as claimed by some witnesses.

"We will examine all the security measures... padlocks on the gate etc. I examined the enclosures today (Tuesday) and will do it again tomorrow (Wednesday). We are alert but we can't control what the zoo visitors do," Alipore zoo director Kanailal Ghosh told IANS.

"I hope they (visitors) are more aware after this incident. From our end, we are ensuring all safety through inspections," Ghosh said.

The Alipore zoo has 10 big cats - seven Royal Bengal tigers and three white tigers.

Ghosh, who also saw the video of Tuesday's incident in Delhi, said the tiger was "provoked".

"I saw the video. One can't blame the animal... for an animal in captivity, animal instincts aren't really present in them as found in wild ones. It had given the victim a long time. I don't know what exactly transpired but it seems it was provoked," Ghosh said.

Established in 1876 and spread over 46 acres in the south of the eastern metropolis, the Alipore Zoological Gardens (also called Calcutta Zoo) is India's oldest formally started zoological park.

The zoo has had its fair share of controversies surrounding similar incidents.

In December 2000, a tiger killed a youth who ventured into the open-air enclosure by scaling the high wall surrounding it.

In January 1996, two drunk men tried to garland a tiger after entering inside the enclosure. The animal killed one of them and injured the other.