Lioness found dead in Amreli, probe launched

A lioness was found dead in "suspicious" circumstances at a remote village in Dhari taluka of Amreli district in Gujarat today, prompting the state forest department to launch a probe, officials said.
The carcass of the lioness was found near Lakhapadar village of Dhari district, which is close to the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, said Deputy Conservator of Forest, Gir-East, T Karuppasamy.
The death of the feline appears to be suspicious, he said adding, "We have launched a probe from our side to find out how the lioness died."
According to him, the feline might have died after consuming meat laced with pesticide.

"Prime facie, it appears that the lioness consumed something that had pesticide content. We have also found a dead goat near the lioness carcass. The probe is still underway," he added.
A census conducted in 2015 has revealed that there are 523 lions in and around the Gir Sanctuary, considered as the last abode of the Asiatic lions.

Meanwhile, a video showing three adolescent lions taking a night stroll in Rampara village of Dhari taluka has was doing rounds in social media today.
In that video footage captured on CCTV, three lions can be seen strolling around in the village during night. At one point, they can be seen running for their lives after being chased away by a cow.

Though it is believed that the lions sneaked in for hunting, Karuppasamy asserted that such activity is common during monsoon, as the lions feel uncomfortable in the forest due to the rise in the number of mosquitoes and other insects.
"Lions get irritated due to mosquitoes and other insects during monsoon. Just to get a relief, these lions might have came out of forest and entered the village" he said.