Lion attacks two temporary drivers in Gir forest

Sasan Gir: A lion on Thursday attacked at least two people in Devaliya interpretation zone cum safari area situated at a distance of 13 km from here in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat.The lion injured one seriously and had taken away the other one even as the attempts to search and rescue him were on.

CCF Junagadh D T Vasavada told UNI that as per primary reports the two were drivers employed by the forest department on daily wage basis.

"While one of them has been rescued and admitted to hospital the search and rescue operation for the other one was on," he said adding that more details of the incident would be shared later.

Notably, the Devaliya interpretation zone, situated in the Gir forests, the only abode of Asiatic lions, spread across 3 districts of Gujarat, has been turned in to a lion Safari recently and it remains open even during Monsoon when the 110 sq km tourist zone of Gir National Park cum Sanctuary remains closed for 4 months every year. Gypsy vehicles have also been introduced for seeing lions in Devaliya interpretation zone where earlier only mini buses were used for the same.

As per the last lion census of 2015, Gir was home to 523 lions including male, female and cubs.(UNI)