Lion found dead near Junagadh

RAJKOT: A lion was found dead in Junagadh Agricultural University (JAU)'s research farm on the outskirts of Junagadh town on Tuesday morning.

The lion is believed to be around one-and-a-half-year old. The decomposed body was found some 10 km away from Junagadh towards Bilkha Road. The carcass suggested that the lion might have died two days ago.

"We have sent the body for post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of death. But preliminary investigation suggests that lion may have died due to snake bite,'' said Parbat Maru, range forest officer, Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary (Girnar South division), Junagadh.

Forest officials said that a lioness and her three cubs were seen roaming around this area before a few days.

The death of lions have remained cause of concerns for wildlife conservationists as over 265 lions have died in Gir forest and adjoining areas in last five years, most of them in unnatural death.

According to last lion census, there were 411 lions in Gir forest, the last abode of Asiatic lions.