In A Rare Attack, Two Lions Attacked And Killed A 14-Year-Old Girl In Gujarat's Junagadh
A 14-year-old girl was mauled to death by two lions in Dhanfuliya village of Gujarat's Junagadh district.
The incident was reported on Tuesday in Vanthali range forest area, where two girls belonging to a family of migrant farm labourers stepped out to answer nature's call.
"The girls were attacked by two young lions and one of them was dragged away and mauled to death around 2 am," said Sunil Berwa, deputy conservator of forest (Junagadh).
"Our staff who were nearby rushed to the spot after hearing some noise and saw the lions. The body was recovered soon after," he added.
According to officials, the other girl managed to escape by jumping into a water tank.
The deceased was identified as Bhavna Baria, who belonged to a family of farm labourers from Godhra in the state's Panchmahal district.
Efforts are underway to rescue the predator and cages are being placed in the area, the DCF said.
According to locals, lions have been spotted in the area for the last six months, and there have been incidents of them preying on cattle.
Though the exact reason for the lions attacking the girl is unknown, it is believed that the big cats might have mistaken the girls for prey in the night.
There have been similar incidents in the past, where lions have killed humans at night near forested areas.
In recent years, Gujarat has seen an increase in the number of lions straying beyond the forest boundaries.
Recently a mother and two sub adults aged between two and three years were spotted in the outskirts of Rajkot.
Though the reason behind the pride leaving Gir Forest is still unknown, conservationists have long argued that the protected area is becoming too small for the growing population of Asiatic lions there.
Asiatic lions are present in Protected Areas and agro-pastoral landscapes of Saurashtra covering nine districts, over 30,000 sq. km.
According to the latest data, the?number of lions in Gir forest?and other areas has risen to 674.
