Gujarat : Lioness Kills 5-Year-Old Boy in Amreli Village

AMRELI : A devastating lion attack in Gujarat’s Amreli district has reignited fears over the growing human-wildlife conflict around the Gir landscape after a five-year-old boy was mauled to death by a lioness in Chaturi village of Khambha taluka on Tuesday night.

The tragedy unfolded in a matter of seconds as little Gian Devkumbhai was reportedly walking with his grandfather to deliver milk. According to villagers, a lioness suddenly emerged from the darkness and pounced on the child. Before the elderly man could react, the predator dragged the boy away towards the nearby forest, leaving behind a scene of horror that residents say they will never forget.

The grandfather’s desperate cries and the child’s screams echoed through the village, drawing residents out of their homes. Armed with sticks and torches, villagers rushed into the surrounding fields and forest areas in a frantic effort to rescue the child. Despite their attempts, Gian could not be saved.

“The youths of the village immediately ran after the lioness and tried to free the child. Unfortunately, by the time we found him, it was too late,” said Danubhai Vaghosi, the boy’s maternal uncle.

The child’s remains were later recovered nearly a kilometre away from the village. The incident has plunged Chaturi into mourning while triggering widespread anger against the forest department. Residents claim repeated sightings of lions near human settlements have become increasingly common, yet preventive measures remain inadequate.

Responding to the incident, teams led by Dhari Gir East DCF Vikas Yadav and ACF Kapil Bhatia launched a massive overnight operation. Forest officials tranquilized and captured a lioness believed to be involved in the attack. In total, five lions were rescued and caged during a nine-hour operation. Officials also confirmed that biological samples from the captured animals would be examined as part of the investigation.

“This unfortunate incident occurred in the Chaturi revenue area under the Tulsishyam range. We immediately initiated a large-scale operation to capture the animals involved,” ACF Kapil Bhatia said.

The attack marks the third lion-related incident reported in Amreli district within the last month, intensifying concerns among residents living on the fringes of Gir. Villagers have demanded a permanent forest outpost, round-the-clock monitoring and direct intervention from the state government.

“The lions are entering villages frequently. We want a written assurance of our safety. If our concerns are ignored, we will launch a strong agitation,” said a local resident.

As grief grips Chaturi, the incident has once again raised urgent questions about balancing wildlife conservation with the safety of communities living alongside Gujarat’s iconic Asiatic lions.