Why ‘maneater’ lioness suspected of killing Gujarati farmer will be quarantined

The incident occurred in a region that is part of the larger Gir forest, the last natural habitat of the Asiatic Lion. The decision to quarantine the lioness follows protocol in line with human-animal conflicts. Here is what to know.

Unprecedented behaviour

According to forest department officials, the protocol in cases where a person is suspected to be killed by an Asiatic Lion is to ascertain the consumption of human flesh from the samples of the stool and GI tract of the animal. To do this, they compare this with the results from the post-mortem of the victim. If they can establish a positive connection, the animal is permanently quarantined.

Baraiya’s body has been sent for post-mortem, while the samples of the lioness have been submitted for testing. The results are awaited. “We believe that most likely, the vomit and stool samples of the lioness will come back positive for consumption of human flesh,” Jayant Patel, the Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) of Shetrunji Division said.

Several officials who spoke to The Indian Express said that the present case was highly erratic and unusual. After mauling and killing the farmer, the lioness proceeded to drag him across the district border, as well as over the forest jurisdiction from Gir-East to Shetrunji Division, before excavating his abdominal cavity and sitting on top of his body. Such behaviour is not typically observed in lions.

DCF Patel said his team was investigating why the lioness had exhibited such behaviour and was questioning villagers in this regard. “Humans are not the natural prey of lions.” he said. “In almost all cases, lions just try to get away from humans unless there is a case of mistaken identity wherein a lion attacks a human believing it to be an animal which can happen especially in the night time or during winters when people are covered up in blankets and go to answer nature’s call.”

Forest officials are also investigating whether the lioness’s behaviour was caused by distress or other provocation by humans. Videos of people harassing these big cats are regularly posted to social media, prompting legal action from authorities.

Such provocation seems unlikely in the present case, given that Baraiya was attacked by the lioness while he was near his farm.

Quarantining the lioness

In keeping with the Standing Operating Procedures in such situations, the Chief Wildlife Warden will review the medical test results and decide if the lioness should be quarantined.

When asked about the protocol in such cases, DCF Patel said, “Animals involved in causing injury or death of humans are usually sent to wildlife quarantine areas located in each division or to Sakkarbaug Zoological Park in Junagadh.”

Jaipal Singh, the Chief Wildlife Warden of Gujarat, who decides these matters, confirmed, “In cases where a lion or lioness is confirmed as a maneater, in the sense that even a single death is attributed to them and there is proof that the animal consumed human parts, they are either quarantined in their divisions or we can even choose to send them to our gene pool centre depending on their age and other factors.”

The forest department is also expected to take a call on two lions suspected of having mauled a 7-year-old boy to death in Amreli’s Paniya village on February 19. This area also falls under the Shetrunji Division of Junagadh Wildlife Circle, DCF Jayant Patel said. These two lions are currently quarantined at the Krankach Animal Care Centre in Liliya, Amreli.

Eastern grasslands most dangerous

The Junagadh Wildlife Circle encompasses seven divisions and one sub-division, with several forest ranges divided among them.

According to forest officials, most human-animal conflicts in the larger Gir area were reported in the Gir-East and Shetrunji divisions. These divisions are grassland areas widely populated by lions and leopards. The areas in the district border between Gir-Somnath and Amreli are also well-populated by humans, leading to an increased risk of such conflict.

In the financial year 2024-25, 78% of human deaths (of the 18 total deaths in Junagadh Wildlife Circle) and 77% of human injuries from human-animal conflict (of a total 75) were reported in the Gir-East and Shetrunji divisions.

1. 01

   78% human deaths in two divisions

   There have been a total of 18 human deaths in Junagadh Wildlife Circle in the financial year 2024-25, of which 5 were by lions and 13 by leopards.

   However, 14 of the 18 human deaths took place just in Gir-East (9) and Shetrunji (5) divisions out of the 7 divisions and 1 sub-division in Junagadh Circle. The other 4 deaths were in other areas.

2. 02

   77% human injuries in two divisions

   Similarly, there were 75 human injuries caused by animals across the Junagadh Wildlife Circle in FY 2024-25. Of these, 69 were by lions and leopards while 6 were by other animals.

   A total of 32 human injuries (lion-11; leopard-21) were reported from the Gir-East Division, while 21 human injuries (lion-12; leopard-9) were reported from the Shetrunji Division.

Most incidents of human-animal conflicts were reported in the four months between November and February, when migrant workers come to harvest the fields bordering the forest area.

“Migrant workers are not often well versed with animal movements and behaviour. Further, they don’t keep adequate precautions, they sleep in the open, and their dietary patterns are also different,” said DCF Vikas Yadav of Gir-East Division. “There is also a lack of lighting in the area, because of which the outstate labourers are the ones who suffer the most. The Forest Department has tried to mitigate conflict by conducting awareness and appointing locals to help in avoiding such conflicts that can lead to injury and deaths.”