An 11-year-old boy, Mayur Chauhan, from Kheda district, lost his life in a lion attack near the 50th step on a new staircase route on Girnar hill in Gujarat’s Junagadh district. Despite rescue efforts, the child succumbed to the attack. Forest officials, including forest personnel, wildlife trackers, and veterinarians, swiftly responded to the incident.
During a rescue operation to locate the involved lion, one lion was captured. Upon examination by a veterinary doctor, the lion regurgitated human body parts, leading to suspicions of its involvement in the fatal attack. As a precautionary measure, the authorities have temporarily closed the new Girnar staircase route for devotees.
Officials from the Forest Department are actively investigating the incident and have taken necessary steps to prevent similar incidents. Further details will be shared as the investigation progresses, with officers currently occupied with the inquiry. Girnar Hill, situated within the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, is a significant pilgrimage site in Junagadh, known for its Asiatic lion population.
While human-lion encounters have increased in Gujarat due to the lions’ expanded habitats, fatal attacks remain rare. Recent lion attacks in Bhavnagar and Amreli districts resulted in injuries, underscoring the rising interactions between humans and wildlife in the region.
