Gujarat plans 100-hectare enclosure for lions involved in human attacks

Ahmedabad: In the wake of a major escalation in lion attacks on humans across Saurashtra, the Gujarat forest department has decided to keep lions involved in human attacks in a specially designated enclosure.

In this connection, work has been initiated to create a special enclosure spread across 100 hectares at Ambardi Safari Park. The park falls under the reserved forest area of the Gir Protected Area, located in Dhari of Amreli district.

Confirming the development, Dr Jaipal Singh, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, said that "lions involved in human attacks will be kept in a suitable environment by fencing a designated area at Ambardi Safari Park. Necessary instructions have been issued for this work, and the required work has been initiated."


It may be mentioned here that, spread across approximately 365 hectares, Ambardi Safari Park is an important wildlife tourism destination in Gujarat, housing Asiatic lions, leopards, chital, nilgai, chinkara, peacocks, and various species of birds. Established in 2017, Ambardi Safari Park has been developed with the objective of promoting wildlife conservation.

The state forest department periodically undertakes the relocation of wildlife to reduce human-wildlife conflict, provide safe habitats for animals, maintain ecological balance, and ensure the long-term conservation of species.

Concerns over growing lion-human conflicts across Saurashtra have been increasing, with several fatal encounters reported across Junagadh, Amreli, and Bhavnagar districts.