Kanpur: Radhika, a 10-year-old Asiatic lioness undergoing treatment after her tail was severely injured in an attack, died at Etawah Safari Park on Monday morning.The big cat had been unwell for several days and had stopped eating five days ago, taking only water and chicken soup. She was treated continuously under specialist supervision, but her condition did not improve.Another lioness, Neerja, attacked Radhika in a night cell at the breeding centre on Jul 8, biting and severely damaging her tail.Radhika later began biting the injured tail, worsening the wound and increasing the risk of infection.After consulting experts at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya, Mathura, doctors amputated the damaged tail on Jul 9.Safari director Anil Patel had said on Aug 27 that Radhika’s condition was critical. Doctors continued efforts to save her, but she died around 4.30am on Monday. “Lioness Radhika was lying in her cell when her tail went into the cell of the adjacent lioness Neerja. Neerja suddenly became angry and bit off Radhika’s tail with her mouth,” said Patel.After this, a team of specialist doctors was called from Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya, Mathura. The three-member team, supervised by Dr Sanjay Purohit, examined Radhika and treated her continuously.The real cause of death will be clear after the post-mortem examination report.Radhika was brought to Etawah Safari Park from Junagarh Safari Gujarat in 2019. Her death has caused grief among safari management and wildlife lovers.Patel said Etawah Lion Safari now houses 22 lions, lionesses and cubs.
