Rajkot: A viral video from Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh triggered concern among wildlife lovers and forest officials after a visitor allegedly threw a piece of cloth into a tiger enclosure. The incident, captured on camera and shared on social media, raised questions about visitor behaviour and animal safety at Gujarat’s largest zoo.While incidents of people harassing lions are occasionally reported from villages in the Gir region, wildlife activists said the episode is particularly disturbing because it occurred in a zoo, where animals are expected to be protected.The video, which surfaced on social media on Monday, shows a man throwing a cloth into the enclosure. One tiger is seen picking up the cloth and playing with it, while another appears to chew on it. Voices from the crowd can be heard cheering.The footage prompted questions about the absence of zoo personnel near the enclosure at the time.Wildlife activists described the incident as a serious lapse and said captive animals should be protected from such harassment. They argued that, unlike incidents involving wild animals, authorities cannot rely on operational limitations to explain a lack of supervision in a zoo.Rajdeepsinh Jhala, deputy conservator of forests, Sakkarbaug Zoo, said zoo personnel had briefly moved away when the incident occurred.“Our staff had gone to the leopard cages when the incident took place. We have examined the CCTV footage, and with the assistance of the police, we will identify and apprehend the persons responsible,” Jhala said.According to officials, the incident took place on Sunday but came to the attention of the authorities only after the video went viral the following day.
