‘Love story’ of free lions of Girnar and Kajol-Karishma of Sakkarbaug zoo drawing attention of many wildlife lovers in Gujarat

Junagadh: A strange love-story of lions; between two free lions of Girnar forests of Junagadh and the two lionesses kept in adjoining Sakkarbaug zoo here is drawing attention of many commoners and wildlife lovers these days.

In fact the two lions of Girnar, fondly named by forest department employees as Akbar and Anthony, have made it a regular exercise to come near the wall of the zoo close to the area where the two lioness Kajol and Karishma are kept in a cage inside. They all keep roaring whole night which according to wildlife experts was an expression of their intense desire of mating.

DCF of Girnar wildlife sanctuary A D Tilana today said that Akbar and Anthony were among the five male lions of a total around 35 such beasts living in the forests in the vicinity. ‘In fact the duo had a third partner who was named Amar on the famous trio of Amitabh Bachchan starer movie Amar Akbar Anthony. But it was caught some time ago when it attacked a woman and was caged and kept in the zoo. The remaining two’ Akbar and Anthony, initially used to come near the zoo (most likely to see their caged partner) and jumped off the around 12 ft high wall. Inside’ they encountered Kajol and Karishma and seemingly fell for them immediately. They forgot their partner and used to spent hours in front of the the lioness’s cage,’ he said.

‘Owing to their frequent visit to the zoo and the danger thus posed, the authorities decided to increase the height of the wall so that they can’t scale it. Even after that the duo regularly come near the wall and sit the night through outside. They roar and get similar reply from the two lionesses, who are also seemingly equally eager to see them,’ he said.

Meanwhile some of the wildlife lovers and commoners are contemplating to write to the zoo authorities to allow the lovers to meet and mate.

DeshGujarat