7 yr-old Boy, Woman killed by Lions in 'rarest of rare' Attacks

The man-animal conflict near Gir has once again come into focus as two persons, including a seven-year-old boy and a woman, died in separate incidents after they were attacked by lions on Saturday in Gujarat, India.
The attacks by the wild cat was described as rarest of the rare by senior forest officials, who also claimed these attacks to be the first of their kind in the state. The population of lions has gone up from 411 in 2010 to 523 in the year 2015 according to the latest counting.

In the first instance, seven-year-old Rohit was attack by a male lion -aged about 6-7 years old -when he was attending nature's call along with his father Rumal Adivasi (25) outside Babra Virdi village of Maliya Hatina taluka of Gir-Somnath district at around 6 am.

Sources said the lion dragged the boy into the forest even as his father shouted for help. Villagers, hearing Rumal's cries, came running and went into the forest area that borders the village and made loud noises, scaring away the lion. However, it was too late as the boy was already torn apart by the wild cat. Forest officials increased vigil around the village to try and nab the lion that has potential of becoming a man-eater. The lion was captured later on Saturday evening and brought to Sasan, said deputy conservator of forest, Sasan.

"However, we are closely monitoring the wild cat. It will be caged and sent for rehabilitation at Sasan," Pant told TOI.

The second attack was reported from Samatpara village of Bhesan taluka in Junagadh where Hansaben Dhamecha (45) was attacked when she was collecting firewood from the area outside the village that borders the Gir Sanctuary.

She was rushed to Bhesan primary health centre but was declared dead on arrival.

Describing the two lion attacks as the rarest of the rare, chief conservator of forests (wildlife) A P Singh said, "Lions are royal animals and there has been no case of lions attacking humans unless being provoked. The lion that killed the boy (Rohit) was a radio-collared lion from the nearby sanctuary."