It was a moment of fright for the Tata Zoological Park, when a cobra entered the lion exhibit at eying a toad inside. While it managed to get the toad, the snake could not escape the attentions of lioness Salia, who caught it by the neck and shook it about, as is the wont of cats.
She aroused the curiosity of lion Jumbo, who came to investigate the strange creature. The two big cats managed to get into a bit of tug-of-war, killing the snake but sustaining collateral damage in the form of snake bites. Their antics thankfully did not go unnoticed and zookeepers Taraknath, limsa and Vijay speedily isolated the lion couple for observation. Both showed symptoms of the toxins in their blood and have been administered anti-venom by veterinarian M Palit.
The other three lions in the enclosure appear to be safe till now but have been given anti-allergens as a precaution. All the big cats are being watched closely. Something similar had happened last year in November. At the time, tall grass had been cut and burnt and medicine spread.
However, the recent rains seem to have spawned a fresh infiltration by the reptiles, spreading apprehension among the staff and ofcourse a possible threat to their lives.