Lion Kills 1 & Injures 2 in Guj Safari, Lioness Found Dead in Gir

A labourer was killed and two injured after a lion attacked them in Devalia Safari Park in Junagadh district.

A Gir lion resting in the shade.

(Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia)

In a shocking incident, a labourer was killed and two persons injured after a lion attacked them in Devalia Safari Park in Gujarat's Junagadh district on Thursday. Meanwhile, a lioness was found dead in Gujarat's Gir forest on Thursday, taking the death toll of big cats to 30 since September, officials said.

The lion first attacked a labourer, identified as Rajnish Keshwala (32), and dragged him inside the park this morning, said DT Vasavada, chief conservator of forests (CCF) (Junagadh Wildlife Circle).

“When another labourer, Dinesh Sakhat, tried to save Keshwala, the lion attacked him also. While Sakhat managed to flee, the lion dragged Keshwala inside the park’s forest. Dinesh then alerted the staff about the incident.”

D T Vasavada, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) (Junagadh Wildlife Circle)

Lion Also Attacks a Forester

Sakhat, who was severely injured, was taken to the Junagadh Civil Hospital and forest officials immediately launched a search for Keshwala, the CFO said.

“During the search operation inside the park, the staff found Keshwala’s body. While the body was being recovered, the lion also attacked a forester.”

DT Vasavada, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) (Junagadh Wildlife Circle)

The forester sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital, he added. Keshwala's body has been recovered, Vasavada said, adding that an inquiry would be conducted into the incident.

The officer did not rule out the possibility of more than one lion being involved in the attacks. The forest department has employed a number of labourers to help in maintenance of the park spread over an area of 412 hectares.

Devalia Safari Park is situated close to Gir National Park, the last abode of the endangered Asiatic lions at Sasan in Junagadh district, about 350 kilometres from here. The park, also known as Gir Interpretation Zone – Devalia – was established to reduce the tourist burden on the Gir National Park.

It is a closed facility secured by chain link fencing. Apart from Asiatic lions, the park houses leopards, blue bulls, sambhar, chital, jackal, black buck and wild boar, among other animals.

Lioness Found Dead in Gir

The carcass of a lioness, aged between 9 and 12 years, was found at the Tulsishyam Range of the forest near the border of Amreli district, Chief Conservator of Forests, Junagadh Wildlife Circle, DT Vasavada said.

“A preliminary investigation has revealed that the feline died due to natural causes. There were no injury marks on the carcass.”

DT Vasavada, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) (Junagadh Wildlife Circle)

The carcass has been sent for postmortem to ascertain the exact cause of death, Vasavada added. Prior to this, 29 lions, including cubs, have died in and around the Gir forest during the last three months due to infighting, pneumonia, Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Protozoa infection.

As many as 23 big cats had died in Gir in a short span of three weeks in September. Later, six lion cubs were found dead in different parts of the forest on separate occasions. Following the outbreak of CDV infection in September, 36 lions were captured and shifted to three rescue centres as a precautionary measure.