Rajdeepsinh Zala, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) of Gir (East), said, “Two sub-adult lionesses fell in the open well while chasing a nilgai on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday or early on Saturday morning.
While trying to hunt a nilgai, two sub-adult lionesses fell in an open well on an agricultural field near Dhari village in Gir (East) wildlife division in Amreli on Saturday, leading to death of one of the big cats, forest officers said.
The incident happened on the agricultural farm of Shmbhu Rudani on Dhari-Kubda Road near Dhari village in Sarasiya range of Gir (East).
Rajdeepsinh Zala, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) of Gir (East), said, “Two sub-adult lionesses fell in the open well while chasing a nilgai on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday or early on Saturday morning. The incident was reported to us at 7.30 am after farmers noticed something unusual in the well.”
He added that pugmarks of the two lionesses and a nilgai near the well confirmed that the two carnivores fell in the well while trying to hunt the nilgai. “However, the nilgai seems to have escaped unscathed from the attack,” Zala said.
“While our team managed to rescue one of the sub-adults, the other died due to drowning. The two sub-adults were part of a pride of seven lions, which have established their territory near Dhari village in Sarasiya range,” he added.
Zala said that the well in which the lioness was not covered. “The well didn’t have a parapet, which can prevent such incidents,” the DCF added.
“So far, the forest department has helped farmers construct parapets around 12,225 agricultural wells, including 1,110 in the Sarasiya range. But scores are yet to be secured, leading to such incidents,” he said.
The forest department provides assistance of Rs 14,400 per well to farmers for covering them and preventing accidents involving wild animals.
“However, as the lions are further spreading into revenue areas, wells on agricultural fields continue to be a hazard for them,” said Zala.
He added that the rescued lioness escaped without any serious injuries. “However, we have kept her under observation… It has been taken to a rescue centre in Ambardi Safari Park near Dhari.”