Second lion attack in Gir Somnath in 48 hours

Rajkot: A second attack on humans by lion within 48 hours has sent shockwaves among Gir forest officials.
While this time around the victims are safe and stated to be out of danger, the rising instances of man-animal conflict has become the biggest challenge for conservation.
In Wednesday’s incident, two cattle breeders in Gir Gadhada taluka of Gir Somnath district were mauled by a fully grown male lion when they had gone to graze their cattle in the morning.
While both Govind Vagad (46) and Hamir Kalotara (40) received minor injuries in the sudden attack, they are safe, said forest department sources. They received injuries on hand and shoulders and were sent to government hospital in Una for treatment at around 8:45am. Vaghod and Kalotara were grazing their buffaloes in their village Mohabatpara which falls in Jasadhar range of forest department. Suddenly the lion tried to prey on their herd and the duo tried to scare it away. The lion turned its attention on the humans and attacked them.
Anshuman Sharma deputy conservator of forest Gir (east) said, “Generally lions don’t attack humans but it seems these two men were attacked as they were trying to to save their cattle, which the lion sensed as danger.”
This is the second lion attack on humans in two days. On Tuesday, a lioness killed a seven-year-old boy in Visavadar range when he was playing in a farm where his labourer parents were working.
A member of state wildlife board Priyavrat Gadhvi said “There are three four conditions which trigger lions’ anger like being disturbed when they are eating, or mating or are with their cubs.”
The forest department compensates cattle breeders in case they are killed by wild animals. But according to sources, the compensation amount is insufficient in case of milking animals. In many cases, conflicts arise when the breeders are emotionally attached with their animals and try to save them from the predators.