The man, identified as Asif, was found unconscious just outside the cage of Raghav, a full grown tiger, early this morning by the security personnel of the zoo.
Asif, it appeared, had jumped into the open enclosure by scaling the boundary wall from outside and when he lifted open the gate of the cage, the tiger attacked him and tried to pull him inside the cage, sources said.
During the scuffle, the gate fell down to its place closing the cage leaving Asif outside. Tigers roam in the enclosure during visiting hours and are kept in cage at night.
Asif, who was apparently not mentally sound and hailed from Kapali near here in Seraikela-Kharswan district, was removed from the enclosure and admitted to government-run M G M Hospital, sources said.
"We are trying to find out the intention behind his illegal entry into the enclosure," police said.
Meanwhile, zoo authorities tested the tiger and no harm was caused to it, Director Vipul Chakraborty said.
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Asked whether the security arrangement would be tightened following the incident, Chakraborty said "We are reviewing all aspects regarding safety of animals."
On what could be the intention of Asif, he said, "He is in police custody. I can not say what was his intention."
Zoo sources had said they suspected the man entered the enclosure with the intention of poisoning the big cat to get its skin, or steal cubs from adjoining cages. (MORE)