27-yr-old leopard Balaji dies at Tirupati zoo
The death of Balaji, a 27year-old leopard weighing 143 kg at the SV Zoo Park here, came as a big loss to the zoo staff, and many denizens of Tirupati, who held the animal in much affection for over 15 years. Known to be very popular, particularly with children, Balaji had almost become a household name with children in the pilgrim town. After a prolonged illness combined with aging, the end came for Balaji at 4 am in the enclosure on Tuesday.
In February 1998, Balaji was a wild cat of 12 from the Tirumala forest ranges, who kept sneaking into the SV Zoo Park, abutting the foothills, in search of prey. When the leopard kept returning, the zoo authorities laid a trap for it and caged it successfully.
The wild cat was quickly named Balaji as it came from the Tirumala Hills. When it was caught, it weighed around 115 kg, and was considered one of the rarest species of its kind.
S. Saravanan, the zoo curator, told Balaji’s lifespan of 27 years and its weight of 143 kgs was a wonder in the annals of wildlife history.
The zoo attendants, who took care of the animal for the past 15 years, recalled how Balaji kept growling at visitors during his initial days in captivity, but became very friendly with them soon.
“He was like a Sadhu, sitting on a rock in the enclosure most times and keeping to himself, in a contemplative mood. De- spite its huge bulk, Balaji never over-ate and never showed greed for excess food,” they said.
During the last one month, the leopard developed respiratory problems and was kept on a liquid diet for the last few days. The zoo authorities preserved samples of its genes for further study.
At 4.30 pm, the zoo staff, around 50 in number, carried the carcass of Balaji and burnt it at the foot of Tirumala hills, from where it had come 15 years ago. They bid a tearful farewell to their magnificent companion.