Bangalore biological park turns to god to save the tigers

A homa was performed at the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) on Wednesday, to seek divine intervention in curbing the salmonella bacteria outbreak in the park which has killed two tigers and left several other big cats critically ill.

The homa, performed at a temple inside the park, was attended by BBP executive director Milo Tago, Zoo Authority of Karnataka chairman M Nanjundaswamy and member-secretary MN Jayakumar. Two homas — Vanadurgi and kshetra samrakshana — were organised by a non-governmental organisation, Wild On, and the BBP staff for the better health of the tigers.

Vanitha, a captive elephant of BBP, also participated in the homa. With kumkum on her forehead she blessed the priest and others. A few visitors, who also participated in the homa, were delighted to see the pachyderm blessing them. Many posed with Vanitha for photographs. Curious foreigners were also seen taking photographs of the rituals as it was for the first time that they were seeing such a ceremony.

Some visitors, unaware of the seriousness of the bacterial outbreak in the park, were surprised to see the homa being performed in the park. “It is rather surprising that something like this is being done in the zoo. I didn’t know that the tigers are so ill,” said Abhay J, a visitor to BBP. Sudha J, another visitor, said, “If they had taken all precautionary measures, there would have been no need to do something like this.”

Speaking to DNA, Nanjundaswamy said, “This is important for the better health of the animals, apart from the treatment being given to them. I am also visiting temples for the last couple of days to pray for the speedy recovery of the ailing tigers.”
The crowd turnout on Wednesday was limited, but the visitors did get a sight of the homa as the Ganesha temple was located next to the elephant stand.