Lion attacks leave villagers on edge as Gujarat's big cat population grows
The steady rise in the Asiatic lion population in Gujarat has emerged as one of the state's biggest wildlife conservation successes. However, the increasing number
The steady rise in the Asiatic lion population in Gujarat has emerged as one of the state's biggest wildlife conservation successes. However, the increasing number of lions roaming beyond protected forests has also raised concerns over human safety. The issue arises after a series of fatal attacks reported across Saurashtra in recent weeks. According to the Gujarat Forest Department, the state recorded 891 Asiatic lions during the 2025 census, a 32 per cent increase from 2020. Read Full Story The lions now occupy nearly 35,000 square kilometres across 11 districts, 58 talukas and around 3,400 villages. Officials estimate the population could exceed 1,200 in the coming years.
11-YEAR-OLD BOY KILLED The growing human-animal conflict came into sharp focus on July 11, when an 11-year-old boy was killed by a lion while climbing the Girnar steps in Junagadh with his family. The child had barely climbed around 50 steps before a lion attacked him and dragged him into the nearby forest. Forest officials later captured the three lions suspected to have been present at the spot. Forest officials said preliminary findings suggest the animal may have been disturbed before the attack. Conservator of Forests Dr Ramratan Nala told Aaj Tak that people often provoke lions by flashing torchlights, chasing them with vehicles or creating loud noises.
Such behaviour, he said, can trigger defensive attacks even though lions generally avoid humans. ATTACKS SPREAD ACROSS GUJARAT The incidents are not limited to Junagadh. In Bhavnagar's Garajiya village, a 45-year-old man survived after nearly 30 minutes of struggle. In Amreli district, which has the highest lion population at 339, more than seven attacks have been reported in recent weeks, resulting in five deaths and two injuries, according to officials. Authorities say the rise in encounters is linked to expanding lion habitats, with the animals frequently moving through villages, agricultural fields and roads. Officials have also cracked down on people harassing lions, including arrests under the Wildlife Protection Act for chasing the animals and filming them for social media.
Following the recent attacks, the Gujarat government has announced several measures to improve safety, including deploying additional trackers, expanding thermal drone surveillance, increasing checkposts in sensitive areas and declaring parts of the Girnar pilgrimage route as silent zones. Officials have also urged residents and visitors not to disturb lions, warning that human interference often increases the risk of attacks. Ends
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