Junagadh: Several decades ago, legendary poet and story writer Jhaverchand Meghani wrote a poem ‘Charan Kanya’ hailing bravery of a 14 year old girl of Gir who saved her calf from a lion using a stick.

More than 70 years later, Santok Rabari(19) and her younger sister Maiya(18) who live in Mendhawas in the Gir sanctuary near Tulsishyam on October 9 lived Charankanya poem in real life.

When a lion approached their herd, Santik and Maiya stood up firmly between the lion and herd with sticks in hands looking squarely into the lion’s eyes. When the lion stepped back, the sisters took forward step, forcing the lion to leave his idea of attacking cattle.

When Mansukh Suvagia who is associated to water conservation and gir breed cow conservation campaigns came to know about this incident of bravery from forest beat guards and locals, he joined them for five days and noted confident in their body language. Suvagia felicitated both girls for their bravery through his Jal Kranti organization. For Santok, the simple idea is: If you show a lion your back, it may attack you, but if you stand firm, it will leave you alone.

Range Forest Officer of Liliya PA Vithlani confirms that he has documented at least five incidents in which Santok showed away a lion.