Gir Somnath village: Lion falls in well, pulled out alive after daredevil rescue act

“There was water in the well but the lion had sought refuge in a cavity above the water level. Our rescue team from Jasadhar managed to pull the lion out of the well without tranquilising it,” Rajdeepsinh Zala, deputy conservator of forests (DCF) of Gir (east) division, told The Indian Express.

As there was water in the 70-foot-deep well, tranquilising the lion, around three-years old, could have been risky, said Lakha Bharvad, range forest officer (RFO) of Jasadhar. “We were concerned that after tranquilising the lion, if it fell further down in the well and into the water and if we did not manage to pull it out quickly, he might die,” said the RFO.

Therefore, Bharwad said, Pratap Khuman, a wildlife tracker who was part of the rescue team, got inside a cage used for trapping lions. Other members lowered the cage into the well with the help of ropes. “After much effort, Khuman managed to slide a noose of a rope round the chest of the lion while working from the safety of the trap cage. Once the lion was secured with the rope, it was pulled out of the well by the rescue team” the RFO said.

The lion stuck at the botton of the well. (Photo: Gujarat Forest Department)

Zala said the big cat was rescued without any injury. “A veterinarian assessed the lion on the spot after it was pulled out of the well. After the veterinarian concluded that the lion hadn’t sustained any injury, it was set free and was soon reunited with its pride.”

Khuman, meanwhile, said it was a routine day for him, involving a lot of risk though. “I have lost count of the number of operations I have been part of to rescue lions and leopards. I have rescued lions and leopards by similar methods previously also,” the 43-year-old tracker who has been serving the Gujarat forest department since 1999, said.

The tracker, who is a native of Jasadhar village, said there was a lot of risk involved in such rescue operations. “But then, I focus hard on rescuing the animal anyhow and rescue it without any injury. So, the lion was growling and warning me to stay away from it when I was lowered inside the well. However, I simply ignored the growling. I felt duty-bound to rescue it anyhow,” Khuman further said.