Gujarat: Three lions shifted to Sakkarbaug Zoo after fatal attack on boy in Girnar (Lead)

Junagadh, July 11 (IANS) Three lions believed to have been involved in the fatal attack on an 11-year-old boy at Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary have been captured and shifted to Sakkarbaug Zoo for scientific examination, the Gujarat Forest Department said on Saturday, as investigators continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The victim, Mayur Chauhan, from Kheda district, was killed after being attacked near the 50th step on the newly constructed Girnar staircase route earlier in the day.

Following the incident, the Forest Department launched a large-scale operation involving forest officials, veterinarians and wildlife trackers.

Providing an update on the rescue operation, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Akshay Joshi said the group of lions involved had been successfully captured.

“Today, on the new Girnar staircase in the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, an 11-year-old boy, Mayur Chauhan, tragically lost his life in a lion attack near the 50th step. Immediately after the incident, teams from the Forest Department, the veterinary unit, and the tracker team from Sasan reached the spot. The group of lions involved, two males and one female, has been successfully rescued and shifted to Sakkarbaug Zoo, where they will undergo scientific examination and further analysis. The investigation is still underway,” Joshi said.

Earlier, sources had said that one lion was initially captured during the rescue operation. During a veterinary examination, the animal vomited, and human body parts were found, indicating its involvement in the attack.

Subsequent operations led to the capture of the remaining lions believed to have been part of the group.

As a precautionary measure, authorities have closed the new Girnar staircase route to pilgrims until further notice to prevent any further incidents while the investigation and wildlife assessment continue.

Officials said the captured lions would undergo detailed scientific and veterinary examinations at Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh to determine their involvement in the attack and assess their behaviour before any further decision is taken.

Girnar Hill, one of Gujarat’s most important pilgrimage sites, attracts thousands of devotees year-round and is located within the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Asiatic lion landscape in the Junagadh region.

Gujarat is the world’s only natural habitat of the endangered Asiatic lion, whose population has steadily increased over the past decade, leading to a wider distribution beyond traditional forest areas.

While interactions between humans and lions have become more frequent as the population expands, fatal attacks remain relatively uncommon, and the Forest Department routinely deploys tracker teams and rescue personnel to respond to such incidents.

–IANS

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