Gujarat captures 31 lions, declares 7 'maneaters' after fatal attacks

A series of fatal lion attacks in Gujarat has triggered an unprecedented response from the state Forest Department, which has captured 31 Asiatic lions, declared seven of them "maneaters", and sought the expertise of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to investigate what officials describe as a possible shift in lion behaviour.The move follows at least nine lion attacks reported across the state since last month, leaving six people dead and several others injured. While authorities insist the measures are necessary to protect human lives, wildlife experts have cautioned against hastily labelling lions as maneaters, arguing that most incidents stem from increasing human interference in the animals' habitat.
Gujarat is home to the world's only wild population of Asiatic lions, with the Gir landscape serving as their natural habitat. However, a growing lion population, expanding human settlements and increased tourism have led to more frequent encounters between people and the big cats.Among the recent incidents that drew nationwide attention was the attack on 45-year-old cattle herder Kalubhai Parmar in Bhavnagar's Palitana taluka on July 6. Parmar survived after placing one hand inside the lion's mouth while calmly stroking its neck with the other. Videos of the extraordinary encounter went viral on social media.Recalling the incident, Parmar said he believed remaining calm was his only chance of survival. He escaped with two broken fingers and a neck injury and insisted he did not blame the animal. "The lion harms us only if we harass it," he said, echoing a sentiment shared by many Maldhari pastoralists who have coexisted with lions for generations.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Jaipal Singh said the reasons behind the recent attacks vary and, in several cases, the lions appeared to have been provoked. However, he acknowledged that the sudden increase in incidents has prompted the state to commission a scientific study with the Wildlife Institute of India to better understand any behavioural changes and recommend future management strategies.Officials said the 31 captured lions have been relocated to areas without existing prides, while the seven identified as maneaters will remain in permanent captivity and are likely to be housed in zoos. According to the Forest Department, none of the lions classified as maneaters was involved in more than one attack.
A senior forest official noted that what has particularly alarmed authorities is that in some cases, the lions consumed human victims, an uncommon behaviour as humans are not considered part of a lion's natural diet.However, several conservationists have questioned the decision to designate the animals as maneaters. Rajkot-based wildlife expert Bhushan Pandya argued that under established wildlife management principles, an animal should only be labelled a maneater after repeated attacks involving humans as prey.
Former Chief Conservator of Forests Dushyant Vasavada also placed much of the responsibility on human behaviour rather than the lions themselves. He pointed to several recent cases in which people attempted to take selfies, shoot videos or approach lions too closely, disturbing the animals during hunting or mating.In one incident in Liliya, a youth was reportedly killed while trying to film mating lions. In another, people allegedly flashed lights at a lion in the Girnar region before it attacked a boy. Vasavada said the growing obsession with creating social media content around wildlife has significantly increased risky encounters.
Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia recently affirmed the concerns, saying investigations indicate that human provocation played a role in almost all recent attacks. He warned of strict action against those organising illegal "lion shows" or harassing wildlife for photographs and videos.The surge in encounters has also renewed debate over Gujarat's expanding lion population. According to the state's 2025 Lion Population Estimation, the number of Asiatic lions has increased from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025. Nearly 500 of these lions now live outside Gir's core forest in satellite habitats across the Greater Gir landscape.

गिरनार वन्यजीव अभयारण्य क्षेत्र में गिरनार की नई सीढ़ी मार्ग पर हाल ही में हुई अत्यंत दुःखद घटना में खेड़ा जिले के 11 वर्षीय बालक मयूर चौहान की सिंह के हमले में दुर्भाग्यवश मृत्यु हो गई। दिवंगत बालक को भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करता हूँ तथा शोकाकुल परिवार के प्रति अपनी गहरी… pic.twitter.com/jeAgsGE2Mk

— Arjun Modhwadia (@arjunmodhwadia) July 13, 2026

Meanwhile, experts argue that while the growing population reflects successful conservation efforts, habitat fragmentation and unchecked tourism are creating fresh challenges. Illegal resorts, blocked wildlife corridors and inadequate monitoring have intensified human-wildlife conflict, they say.Wildlife biologist Ravi Chellam stressed that long-term scientific research, rather than reactive measures, is essential. He called for collaborative studies examining not only lion behaviour but also prey availability, disease, habitat quality, tourism pressures and human-lion interactions.
The recent surge in attacks has also revived the long-running debate over establishing a second home for Asiatic lions outside Gujarat. While some experts believe dispersing the population could reduce risks, others argue relocation alone will not solve the underlying problem of increasing human encroachment into lion habitats. The Supreme Court had ordered the translocation of Asiatic lions to Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park in 2013 to create a second free-ranging population, but the plan has remained stalled. Former Chief Conservator of Forests Dushyant Vasavada questioned whether relocation would resolve the issue, noting that Kuno now houses African cheetahs. "How can so many predators live together?" he asked. Wildlife expert Bhushan Pandya also argued that relocating lions from Greater Gir would only create space for other lions to move into those areas.Gujarat Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia, meanwhile, said the state has already developed a second habitat for the species within Gujarat. He pointed to the Bardha landscape near Porbandar, where a pride of around 24 lions has settled, saying it serves as the state's alternative home for the Asiatic lion.

(State Correspondent)