Former animal handler at Dubai Zoo dies from Covid-19 complications

Tributes paid to R Devadoss, who worked for 32 years with the big cats, cheetahs and gorillas

R. Deavadoss was famous for fearlessly raising the big cats at Dubai Zoo, and once appeared on a local magazine cover feeding a lion cub. Courtesy of the family

He died from complications caused by Covid-19 on Tuesday night after a two-week illness. He was 67 years old. Courtesy of the family

His son Madhan, 23, said he was "a great man". "He was never scared to care for the dangerous animals, even the lions, cheetahs and gorillas. He was very dedicated to his job," he said. Courtesy of the family

Dubai Zoo opened in 1967 with several dozen animals, but that number grew considerably. Courtesy of the family

The zoo received donations, both from individuals and from Dubai Customs, who confiscated illegal wild animals smuggled into the emirate. Courtesy of the family

A former animal handler who spent 32 years working for Dubai Zoo has died of Covid-19 in India.

Ratnasundram Devadoss, from Puducherry, on India's south-east coast, was famous for raising the big cats at Dubai Zoo, and once appeared on a local magazine cover feeding a lion cub.

He died from complications caused by Covid-19 on Tuesday night, after a two-week illness. He was 67 years old.

His son Madhan, 23, who also caught the virus, paid tribute to his father from his home in India.

"My father was a great man. He was very kind, very noble," he told The National.

It's a great loss to our small zoo community in Dubai

“He was never scared to care for the dangerous animals, even the lions, cheetahs and gorillas. He was very dedicated to his job.

“He would come home once a month every year, and he would tell me about the animals he treated.

“Dr Reza Khan was like family to him,” he said.

Formerly head of Dubai Zoo, Dr Khan lived in a villa in the animal park with his wife and three children.

Now retired, the wildlife expert remembered his former employer warmly.

“Ratnasundram Devadoss was a dear animal keeper to me, and all who met him during his tenure of over 32 years at Dubai Zoo.

“When I joined the zoo as its head in June 1989, he turned out to know almost all segments of animal care in the zoo.

“He was always the first to volunteer to replace keepers and even the cashiers.

"He was so kind that he would even delay his own leave to allow another keeper to take leave.

“In addition to his daily animal keeping job, he worked as de facto storekeeper and Dubai zoo bookseller, as a nurse in the vet clinic, and raised orphan zoo animal babies.

"It's a great loss to our small zoo community in Dubai," Dr Khan said.

Dr Khan's son, Raz Khan, 40, grew up around Devadoss, and described him as "an absolute gem of a person".

“Das, as we called him, was a constant positive force in my life from when I was 9 years old until he retired and moved back home," he said.

"We would watch cricket matches together, fry fish together, laugh together, raise lion cubs together.

“Every day, right after his work day would finish, Das would make sure he came down to the villa to play some cricket with me.

“He was there when I graduated from high school, got my first job and brought my first-born home from the hospital.

“He is still with me today.”

Dubai Zoo opened in 1967 with several dozen animals, but that number grew considerably due to donations, both from individuals and from Dubai Customs, who confiscated illegal wild animals smuggled into the emirate.

In 2018 the new 119-hectare Dubai Safari Park opened near Dragon Mart mall, only to close five months later.

It reopened in October 2020, following a change in management and to allow extensive work to be completed to animal enclosures.

The park is now home to about 3,000 animals and is open daily from 9am until 5pm.

In pictures: Dubai Safari Park

A hyena prowls its enclosure as Dubai Safari Park re-opens it’s doors to the public. All pictures by Antonie Robertson / The National

African dancers welcomed back visitors to Dubai Safari Park

Guests must wear facemasks at all times at Dubai Safari Park in line with Covid-19 safety measures

Curators welcomed back visitors to Dubai Safari Park for the first time in two years

Park improvements include more green space and larger enclosures

20-year-old lowland gorilla, Digit, is a survivor from the now closed Dubai Zoo

Dubai Safari Park has five zones for visitors to explore