An 11-year-old boy was killed in a tragic lion attack while climbing the Girnar hills with his family in Gujarat’s Junagadh district on Saturday. The victim, identified as Mayur Chauhan from Kheda district, was attacked near the 50th step of the newly constructed staircase inside the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary.

According to the Gujarat Forest Department, the lion suddenly emerged from the surrounding forest, dragged the child away, and disappeared into the vegetation before family members or other pilgrims could intervene. Forest personnel and local authorities launched an immediate search operation, during which the boy’s partially eaten remains were recovered.

The incident prompted officials to temporarily close the Girnar temple trekking route to ensure public safety while teams searched for the lion responsible for the attack. Forest officials stated that this is believed to be the first recorded case of an Asiatic lion attacking a pilgrim on the Girnar temple steps, although previous wildlife attacks involving leopards have occurred in the broader Girnar region.

The tragedy has renewed concerns over the increasing interface between humans and Asiatic lions in Gujarat, where the expanding lion population is increasingly moving beyond traditional forest habitats. Wildlife experts have stressed the need for enhanced monitoring, early warning systems, and stronger safety measures along pilgrimage routes passing through wildlife habitats.

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