Mohammad Imran Khan being taken to Patna Medical College and Hospital from Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital in Shastri Nagar on Saturday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Aug. 10: A youth had a providential escape from the jaws of a lion after he leapt into his enclosure at Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park this morning. He apparently wanted to set the big cat free.

Mohammad Imran Khan, 22, reportedly suffering from some psychiatric ailment, luckily escaped with scratches inflicted by the six-year-old Asiatic lion, Vishal, thanks to the prompt action of zoo employees. He is a resident of Piru village under the jurisdiction of Haspura police station in Aurangabad district.

“I love animals and they love me. I can look into the eyes of wild animals up close without any fear. The lion should be set free from the enclosure,” said Imran after being rescued.

Sources said Imran came to Patna a day after Id to meet a relative but decided to visit the zoo first. Around 10.15am, he entered the park and headed straight for the lion enclosure.

Patna zoo director S. Chandrashekhar told The Telegraph: “Visitors tried to stop the youth from jumping inside the enclosure thrice. He succeeded in his fourth bid. The youth seems to be suffering from some mental ailment. Prompt action by zoo employees saved him from the lion. Else, it could have been worse,” said Chandrashekhar.

Eyewitnesses said Imran first crossed the 3ft-high bamboo-sal barricade, then cleared the hedge and reached the boundary wall of the enclosure. In an instant, he jumped into the 20ft dry moat and hurt his left leg, especially his heel.

The zoo was teeming with an approximate 25,000 visitors around that time.

As word spread, hundreds of excited visitors rushed to the enclosure to get a first-hand look.

“Despite having hurt his leg, Imran crawled up the moat in a bid to reach the lion, who was approaching him. The lion jumped at him and clawed him near his neck and waist,” said an onlooker.

Zoo employees surrounded the enclosure and started clanging on the aluminium sheets affixed to the iron cage to divert the lion’s attention and save the visitor.

“The animal keepers made the noise to signal the lion to enter the night shelter. The gates shut as soon as the big cat entered it. Thereafter, Imran was rescued and rushed to the government hospital at Shastri Nagar,” said Chandrashekhar.

There was hardly any sign of fear or hypertension on Imran’s face after the ordeal.

Doctors, who administered first aid to Imran at Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, referred him to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). “The youth suffered multiple bruises on his back and neck besides damaging his left heel badly. We referred him to PMCH for psychiatric treatment after his relatives claimed that he suffers from mental disorder,” said H.N. Diwakar, the hospital director.

“The enclosures and the display area have been designed in accordance with Central Zoo Authority guidelines for the safety of visitors and animals. But we are helpless if someone jumps into the lion’s mouth to end his life. We have beefed up patrolling inside the zoo from today,” said Chandrashekhar.

An informatory was lodged at Sachivalaya police station regarding the incident. A detailed report has been sought from the field officers at the zoo. There are five lions at the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park.

Vishal

10.15am Mohammad Imran Khan (22) enters Patna zoo

10.30-10.40am Makes three futile attempts to cross wooden barricade (around 3ft high) at lion enclosure

10.55am Hurriedly scales wooden barricade, hedge and concrete wall. Jumps inside enclosure, hurts his left leg by falling into 20ft dry moat

10.57-10.58am Vishal, the lion, scratches Imran on his neck and waist

10.58-11.00am Around 50 zoo employees surround the enclosure and start clanging iron sheets affixed to cage to send lion into night shelter

11.10am Sent to Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Shastri Nagar, for initial treatment

2.15pm Referred to PMCH