Video Shows A Cow Being Offered As Bait To Lions In Gujarat's Gir Forest, For An Illegal Show
The video shows two bikes parked at about 100 metres away from a cow and a group of people, mostly locals are seen sitting with sticks carried by beat guards.
An unsettling video from Gujarat's Gir Sanctuary has gone viral, where a lion can be seen hunting a cow that has been tied to a spot.
The cow was being used as a bait to run an illegal show somewhere between Kodinar and Una, a forest official told TOI.
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The video shows two bikes parked at about 100 metres away from a cow and a group of people, mostly locals, sitting with sticks carried by beat guards.
Also Read: Video: Gir Forest Guard On His Way Back Home Encounters Lion Blocking His Path
The person recording the video keeps shifting to shoot the lion preying on the cow, as do the others around him, eager to get the entire episode on their phones. Many motorbikes are also seen on the spot and it looks like they might have travelled specially to watch the show.
Disheartening to see people illegally taking videos of Lion hunting in #Gir to get cheap publicity on social media. This is totally against the spirit of #Lion conservation. I hope the guilty are apprehended & punished.@GujForestDept @Ganpatsinhv @moefcc pic.twitter.com/GREFzjGwNw
¡ª Parimal Nathwani (@mpparimal) October 15, 2020
Officials who analysed the viral video told TOI that the incident was from an illegal show that was organized in return for a handsome sum of money.
Also Read: With No Network & Access To Online Classes, Children In Gir Forest Forced To Graze Cattle
The officer said, ¡°The way the group was ready with their cameras makes it seem this was a routine affair for the group. They might not be feeding the lion for a couple of days and then organizing the illegal show by charging high rates.¡±
The forest department has initiated an inquiry into the matter.
Also Read: Woman Gives Birth Inside Ambulance Surrounded By 4 Lions In Gujarat¡¯s Gir Somnath
