A devastating incident near the Gir forest in Gujarat has claimed the life of a young child and left a forest department employee critically injured. The tragedy unfolded on Sunday in the orchard area of Nani Monpari village, located in Junagadh's Visavadar taluka.
A Morning Turned Tragic
The victim, identified as four-year-old Shivam, was the son of a farm labourer named Shailesh Pardhi. The family, originally from Dahod, was working in the orchard belt near the boundary of the Gir forest. According to preliminary reports, the young boy went missing in the early morning hours while his family was engaged in their work.
Alerted about the disappearance, the forest department immediately launched a search operation around 9 am after receiving a call from the orchard owner. The search, however, ended in heartbreak. Shivam's body was found nearby, bearing deep injury marks that were consistent with an attack by a lioness.
Rescue Operation Goes Awry
Following the discovery, a special rescue team was called in from Sasan to capture the lioness, which was found hiding in a tuver (pigeon pea) field. The operation took a dangerous turn when the team attempted to tranquillise the animal.
The tranquilliser gun misfired during the procedure. The dart, carrying a high dosage of sedative, accidentally struck a forest department tracker named Ashraf. The impact caused him to fall unconscious on the spot. His condition was deemed so critical that the entire rescue operation to capture the lioness had to be halted midway.
Hitesh Gadhvi from the 108 ambulance emergency services confirmed the swift response. "We rushed to the spot, provided primary treatment and shifted Ashraf to Junagadh Civil Hospital as his condition was serious," Gadhvi stated.
Fear and a New Strategy
This double tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community. The attack has created significant fear among farmers and labourer families who commute to orchards and fields, especially during the early morning and late evening hours.
In response to the incident, the forest department is now formulating a fresh strategy to safely cage the lioness. The authorities face the dual challenge of managing the human-wildlife conflict in the region while ensuring the safety of both the residents and the wildlife.
