Leopard injures woman during safari

 

By Sagaya Fernando | November 14, 2025

Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA: A routine safari at Bannerghatta National Park turned into a frightening ordeal on Thursday November 13 when a leopard attempted to enter a tourist bus and injured a woman from Chennai. The victim, identified as Vahitha Banu (56), sustained minor injuries to her hand after the animal managed to claw her through a gap in the window mesh.

The incident occurred around 1 pm during a leopard safari inside a non-air-conditioned bus. According to officials, all safari vehicles are fitted with metal wire mesh to prevent direct contact between animals and visitors, but the leopard succeeded in sliding its paw through a small gap near the window.

A widely circulated video shows the leopard sitting in front of the vehicle before climbing onto its side and attempting to paw at the occupants. In the clip, the animal can be seen tugging at a piece of the woman’s clothing while other passengers try to pull her away. The cloth eventually tears, and a tourist manages to shut the window, preventing further injuries.

Park authorities said the woman was given first aid on the spot and then shifted to a private hospital in Jigani, where she was examined for additional injuries. She is reported to be stable.

“The victim sustained a minor injury to her hand when a leopard, while attempting to climb onto the bus, accidentally clawed her. She was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment and is doing fine,” the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) said in a statement.

Officials also confirmed that safari drivers had previously been cautioned about an earlier leopard-related incident and instructed to exercise strict safety protocols. In light of Thursday’s attack—one of multiple recent cases—the BBP has halted non-AC safari services indefinitely.

“The buses will undergo a comprehensive safety assessment during the downtime. Inconvenience caused to visitors is regretted,” the park authority said.

The suspension of non-AC safaris is expected to increase costs for visitors, as AC safari tickets are priced at ₹690 per adult, compared to ₹370 for the non-AC service.