A decade has slipped by since the shocking tragedy at Delhi Zoo, where a young man named Masqood, just 20 years old, met a horrifying fate at the claws of a massive white tiger.
The chilling incident occurred when Masqood made the ill-fated decision to breach the safety barrier meant to protect visitors from the wild animals. Driven by an insatiable curiosity to witness the majestic creature up close, he found himself in a perilous situation that would ultimately cost him his life. In a tragic misstep, he lost his balance and tumbled into the tiger’s enclosure, landing in the dry moat below.
Despite warnings from the vigilant zoo guards about the lurking dangers, Masqood’s desire to see the grand jungle cat led him to a deadly encounter.
A Desperate Struggle
The harrowing scene was captured on video, revealing Masqood pressed against the wall of the enclosure, facing the predatory tiger, Vijay, who loomed just inches away. In a frantic plea for mercy, he waved his hands in a desperate attempt to persuade the 200-kilogram beast to spare him.
What followed was a tense standoff that lasted several agonizing minutes. As the tiger grew increasingly agitated, it pounced on Masqood, seizing him by the neck with its powerful jaws and dragging him deeper into the enclosure.
Witnesses recounted the horror of the moment. One onlooker, known only as Himanshu, later shared with the media that Masqood endured excruciating pain for what felt like an eternity—at least 15 minutes—before succumbing to his injuries. Another witness, Bittu, recalled how he and other visitors frantically hurled stones at the tiger, desperately trying to divert its attention and save Masqood, but their efforts proved futile.
A Heartbreaking Aftermath
Zoo authorities later admitted their powerlessness in the situation, citing a lack of tranquilizers and wireless communication devices to call for help. Both the staff and horrified onlookers could do nothing but watch as Masqood’s struggle came to a tragic end.
After the attack, Masqood’s body lay in the enclosure for several hours, as zoo guards faced significant challenges in moving the tiger to safely retrieve him.
In the aftermath, Ishrat, Masqood’s devastated mother, expressed her heartbreak to the press: “He left home at 8 am after I told him to go to work. He said he would come home at night. The next thing we heard was that he was in the hospital.”
The incident was subsequently registered as a case of death ‘due to negligence’ against unidentified individuals, marking a tragic chapter in the zoo’s history.