A disturbing incident at Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta Biological Park shocked visitors on Thursday afternoon when a leopard suddenly lunged at a safari bus and injured a woman tourist. The attack took place around 1 pm during a routine safari ride inside the park’s leopard zone, where wild big cats roam freely within a protected habitat while tourists observe them from secure vehicles.
According to officials, a non-AC safari bus carrying several visitors was moving slowly through the designated leopard enclosure when one of the big cats approached unusually close. Moments later, the leopard leaped onto the side of the vehicle and managed to slide its paw through a narrow opening in the metal safety mesh. A 56-year-old woman from Chennai, who was seated near the window, was struck by the leopard’s claws as it swiped through the gap. She suffered a deep scratch on her hand and began bleeding immediately, causing panic among other passengers.
The bus driver quickly accelerated to move away from the leopard while safari staff alerted park authorities. The injured woman was given first-aid at the park’s medical facility and later shifted to a private hospital for further treatment. Doctors stated that she is recovering well and her injuries are not life-threatening.
Following the incident, park authorities immediately suspended all non-AC safari buses that use mesh-covered windows. These buses are typically used for leopard and tiger safaris because of their open ventilation and protective wire coverings. However, Thursday’s attack exposed a critical flaw — a small gap in the mesh that allowed the animal’s paw to enter.
Officials acknowledged that the leopard’s behaviour was unusual, but stressed that even rare moments like this highlight the need for absolute safety. They have now launched a detailed investigation into the incident, including examining the structural condition of the safari vehicles, the spacing of the window mesh, and the protocols followed by staff during animal encounters. Authorities confirmed that safaris will continue only with vehicles deemed fully secure.
Experts have pointed out that visitor safety in wildlife safaris depends heavily on strict adherence to rules. Passengers are repeatedly warned not to put their hands outside windows, not to lean forward, and not to make sudden movements. Despite these guidelines, unexpected animal instincts can still pose risks, especially in zones where big cats move unrestrained. This is not the first time that big cats in the park have interacted closely with safari vehicles, although injuries to visitors are extremely rare.
Park officials said that they are working to introduce additional safety instructions before each safari trip and may redesign the mesh patterns on buses to eliminate any possible gaps. They also plan to increase monitoring of animal behaviour, especially in areas where vehicles pause for tourist viewing.
The incident has reignited discussions about the safety of safari tourism in densely visited parks near metropolitan areas. As Bengaluru expands and more people visit Bannerghatta Biological Park, the pressure on wildlife zones grows. Wildlife experts emphasise that such parks must constantly update their safety systems to balance visitor experience with respect for the animals’ natural behaviour.
Meanwhile, the injured woman’s family has been assured full support from park authorities. The staff involved in the safari have given detailed statements as part of the internal review. The leopard involved in the incident is being monitored but will not be relocated or sedated, as officials believe the attack was a typical defensive or curious reaction rather than aggressive intent.
Authorities are expected to release a complete report soon, along with revised guidelines for safari operations. Until then, non-AC buses will remain off-road, and only fully enclosed vehicles will be allowed inside predator zones.
The park management has urged visitors not to panic, stating that safari rides remain generally safe and incidents of this nature are exceedingly rare. However, the episode serves as a crucial reminder that wildlife encounters, while thrilling, always carry inherent risks that require strong preventive measures and responsible behaviour from both tourists and operators.
