Bengaluru : A routine leopard safari at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) turned into a frightening incident on Thursday when a 56-year-old woman from
Chennai, Vahitha Banu, was injured after a leopard leapt onto a non-AC safari bus and clawed her through a window. The attack, which occurred around 1 pm, triggered panic among visitors and prompted the park to suspend all non-AC bus safaris indefinitely.
According to BBP staff, the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation-operated bus had just entered the leopard enclosure when the animal suddenly jumped onto the vehicle. Banu, seated next to the window, attempted to move back, but the leopard managed to push its paw through a small gap in the mesh and scratch her hand, causing bleeding. She received first aid at the spot before being rushed to a hospital in Jigani, where officials confirmed her condition is stable.
A terrifying incident occurred during the Bannerghatta leopard safari on the outskirts of Bengaluru when a leopard jumped onto a safari vehicle and attacked a woman. The victim, Vahith Banu (50), who hails from Chennai, was visiting the park with her husband and son. The attack… pic.twitter.com/TLoKdm5ZIo
— News9 (@News9Tweets) November 13, 2025
A video of the episode, widely circulated online, shows the leopard climbing onto the bus and pawing aggressively at the window. Park authorities said all safari buses are equipped with metal wire mesh, but the leopard exploited a minor gap despite existing safety features.
Park’s director calls incident unfortunate
In a statement, BBP Executive Director AV Surya Sen called the incident “unfortunate” and said safari drivers had earlier been warned about leopard activity. “Non-AC bus safaris have been halted until a full safety review is completed. All buses will undergo a thorough inspection and reinforcement,” the statement added.
This marks the second leopard-related incident in the park in three months. On August 15, a 12-year-old boy sustained scratches in a similar attack, prompting the Forest Department to direct installation of mesh covers over all windows and photography points.
The 20-hectare Leopard Safari houses rescued leopards from conflict zones and is secured by a 4.5-metre-high chain-link barrier reinforced with metal sheets. Officials said a comprehensive protocol review is now underway to prevent any recurrence and reassure anxious visitors.
