Chimp goes berserk, injures 3 zoo workers

Hyderabad: A female chimpanzee named Suzi caused panic at the Nehru Zoological Park on Wednesday. As the animal keeper was opening the night shelter, the animal using its long fingers opened the latch and walked out of the enclosure. Well before the Zoo Authorities got the alert, it strayed into the food court area targeting the staff on duty.A Two workers at the food court were injured by it - one on the calf of his leg and the other on his ankle. The third person, a gardener who was sweeping the lawn also proved to be no exception. It caused an injury on his palm.

Deft handling The moment the chimpanzee headed towards the food court the animal keeper quietly followed it as not to cause panic among the workers and also not to excite the animal. Once the animal entered the barricaded area it sat in a corner. The veterinary staff of the zoo arrived and gave it a mild sedation and later the animal was taken to the night shelter.

Nehru Zoological curator A Shankaran said, "The three injured workers were immediately taken to the Institute of Preventive Medicine at Narayanguda and were given anti-rabies injection. They were later taken to Fever Hospital for further treatment.

They are doing well now." The chimpanzee in the meanwhile has been shifted away from the visitors enclosure for the day. It could have been worse but for the alertness and deft handling of the animal keeper. The 21-year-old Suzi, gifted by a corporate group quite some ago, was otherwise one of the well behaved inmates of the Zoo Park.