Lioness killing guard: SGNP report stresses gate switch

An exhaustive report studying the possible causes of the death and preventive steps for the future has been submitted to the park director. The report,prepared by assistant conservator of forest Satish Phale,is being studied,said director P N Munde.

A need for strengthening security and upgrading mechanism has been observed,he revealed. “I have not yet studied the entire report and hence can’t comment on it as a whole. But the main point that has surfaced is the need to replace the old-style manual gates at the safari with mechanical gates which open and close with a press of a switch. This way,the gates can be operated much faster,” he said.

Munde said the park would add more guards soon. He added that the over-confidence of the guard,Harishchandra Gembal,could not be ignored either.

Sources in the park said the 104-sq-km SGNP has only 123 guards. The lion safari spans 21 acres and has two safety gates at the entry. Only two guards are posted there,one at the ticketing office and one for the twin gates. An employee said,“Ideally,the safety gates at the lion and tiger safari should have at least two guards,one manning the inside gate and the other the outside gate.”

The draft report is subject to changes,inclusions and deletions,Munde said. Once final,it will be forwarded to the wildlife department,along with a list of improvisations sought. “Besides,we also have to calculate the total budget required for installing mechanical gates and tightening security,” he said.