Stray Dogs Bite Visitors at Napier Museum, Prompting Safety Concerns

On the morning of November 11, 2025, an estimated four people on their morning walk at the Napier Museum premises were bitten by a stray dog that had entered the compound. The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m., and the dog also attempted to attack museum and zoo staff before being killed by members of the public.

This latest attack is part of an ongoing issue with stray dogs at the museum, which authorities attribute to the food waste left behind by visitors. The museum and zoo officials have repeatedly requested the city corporation to remove the stray dogs, but the corporation can only vaccinate and sterilize the animals before releasing them back to the same location.

The corporation's veterinary surgeon, Sreerag Jayan, stated that the dog squad had captured two dogs and recovered one dead dog from the museum premises. The dead animal will be tested for rabies, while the captured dogs will be kept under observation. Jayan also noted that all the dogs on the museum premises had already been vaccinated and sterilized, but some three to four dogs remain to be captured.

The incident has prompted renewed calls for more effective management measures to address the stray dog problem at the Napier Museum. Authorities are urging visitors to refrain from littering and leaving behind food waste, which attracts the stray animals to the area. The corporation secretary, Jahamgeer S., reiterated that the stray dog population in the city is being controlled through the Animal Birth Control program, but consistent vaccination and sterilization efforts are still needed.