The Gujarat Forest Department has decided to bring in the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to study whether there has been any change in the behaviour of Asiatic lions following a recent rise in attacks on humans across the state.
Since last month, at least nine lion attacks have been reported in Gujarat, resulting in six deaths. In response, forest authorities have captured 31 lions, relocated many of them, and declared six to seven lions as “maneaters”, meaning they will remain in captivity and will not be released back into the wild.
Officials say the unusually high number of such cases in a short period has raised serious concerns.
A Cowherd’s Remarkable Escape
One of the most dramatic incidents took place on July 6 in Garajiya village of Bhavnagar’s Palitana taluka, an area known for frequent lion sightings.
Forty-five-year-old Kalubhai Parmar, a maldhari (cowherd), was feeding his cows when a lion suddenly attacked and pinned him to the ground.
Believing he had little chance of survival, Parmar made a split-second decision when the lion tried to bite his neck. Instead of struggling, he put one of his hands inside the lion’s mouth while gently stroking the animal’s neck with his other hand. Videos recorded by villagers later went viral, showing the unusual encounter.
According to Parmar, he hoped calming the animal would save his life. After nearly ten minutes, the lion eventually opened its mouth, allowing him to pull out his hand before the animal walked away. Parmar escaped with two broken fingers and a deep neck injury.
Despite the frightening experience, he says he does not blame the lion. “The animal harms us only if we harass it,” he believes.
Forest Department Launches Behaviour Study
The recent attacks have prompted the Gujarat Forest Department to seek scientific answers.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Jaipal Singh said the attacks appear to have occurred for different reasons, with several cases involving lions that had allegedly been disturbed or provoked.
However, officials admit there is still no clear explanation for the sudden rise in attacks.
The upcoming study by the Wildlife Institute of India will examine whether there has been any behavioural change among lions and recommend measures to reduce future human-wildlife conflicts.
31 Lions Captured, Several Declared ‘Maneaters’
Following the recent attacks, forest officials captured 31 lions from different areas.
Most have been relocated to locations where there are no existing lion prides. However, officials confirmed that six or seven lions identified as maneaters will remain in captivity and may eventually be shifted to zoos.
Authorities also clarified that none of the lions declared maneaters was linked to more than one attack.
A senior forest official said one worrying trend was that in several recent cases, the lions had partially consumed the victims.
According to officials, humans are generally not part of a lion’s natural diet, making these incidents particularly concerning.
Experts Question the ‘Maneater’ Tag
Not everyone agrees with the Forest Department’s decision.
Former Gujarat State Board for Wildlife member Bhushan Pandya argued that calling these lions “maneaters” after a single incident is scientifically incorrect.
He pointed out that guidelines used for big cats generally classify an animal as a maneater only if it repeatedly attacks and consumes humans.
According to him, if a lion attacks after being provoked or harassed, it should not automatically receive that label. He believes such decisions may satisfy public anger but are not ideal for long-term wildlife conservation.
Human Behaviour Under the Scanner
Many wildlife experts believe the recent attacks are closely linked to human actions rather than any major change in lion behaviour.
Former Chief Conservator of Forests Dushyant Vasavada said most of the recent incidents involved people disturbing lions. He cited several examples:
In Liliya, a young man was killed while allegedly trying to record mating lions on his phone.
In Palitana, the lion that attacked Kalubhai Parmar had reportedly been disturbed earlier after making a kill in a nearby village.
In Girnar, a lion attacked a 12-year-old boy after people allegedly flashed lights at the animal.
Vasavada said the growing craze for social media reels, selfies, and close-up wildlife videos has increased risky behaviour around lions.
Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia also said that in nearly all recent incidents, lions had reportedly been harassed before the attacks occurred.
He warned that the government follows a zero-tolerance policy against illegal lion shows and anyone found disturbing wildlife.
Are There Too Many Lions?
Some people believe the increase in lion attacks is due to Gujarat’s growing lion population.
According to the latest Lion Population Estimation, Gujarat’s Asiatic lion population increased from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025.
Out of these, 394 lions live in the core Gir forest, while 497 have spread across surrounding satellite habitats in the Greater Gir landscape.
However, wildlife experts reject the idea that the growing population alone is responsible for the attacks.
They argue that lions have expanded naturally because suitable habitat, prey, and protection have improved over the years.
Instead, experts point to increasing human activities around lion habitats.
Illegal Tourism and Habitat Pressure
Experts say illegal tourism is adding pressure on lion habitats.
Bhushan Pandya claimed that unauthorised hotels and illegal tourism activities are blocking important wildlife corridors used by lions.
He urged the government to strictly enforce the Wildlife Protection Act, under which offenders can face imprisonment of up to seven years for illegal activities such as organising lion shows.
He also suggested restarting regular night patrols to prevent such violations and giving forest officials stronger powers to protect wildlife.
Scientists Call for Long-Term Research
Wildlife biologist and conservation scientist Ravi Chellam believes the current situation highlights the need for continuous scientific research.
According to him, studies should not begin only after a crisis emerges.
He said research should cover not only lion behaviour but also prey populations, diseases, habitat quality, tourism, local communities, and the broader ecological relationship between humans and wildlife.
Such long-term studies, he believes, are essential for managing an endangered species like the Asiatic lion.
Debate Over a Second Home for Asiatic Lions
The recent attacks have once again revived the debate over creating a second habitat for Asiatic lions outside Gujarat.
Although the Supreme Court ordered the relocation of some lions in 2013, the Gujarat government has continued to oppose the move.
Former forest officials argue that relocating a few lions would not solve the problem because other lions would eventually occupy the same areas.
They also note that Kuno National Park, once identified as a possible second home for Asiatic lions, is now home to cheetahs.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia said Gujarat has already developed Bardha, near Porbandar, as another suitable habitat within the Greater Gir landscape.
According to him, a pride of 24 lions has already settled there, strengthening the state’s efforts to expand the species’ habitat while keeping the population within Gujarat.
Balancing Conservation and Human Safety
The recent rise in lion attacks has highlighted the growing challenge of balancing wildlife conservation with human safety.
While officials continue to investigate whether there has been a genuine change in lion behaviour, many experts believe the bigger issue is the increasing interaction between people and wildlife.
The upcoming study by the Wildlife Institute of India is expected to provide scientific insights that could help shape future conservation strategies, reduce human-lion conflict, and ensure the long-term protection of the world’s only wild population of Asiatic lions.
Also Read: After 10 Lion-Human Conflict Incidents In 45 Days, Gujarat Bans New Resorts In Gir https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-gir-illegal-resorts-lion-human-conflict-tourism-crackdown/
