Amreli: Two young men in Jejad village, Savarkundla taluka were attacked by a lioness protecting its kill on Sunday morning.

A local lioness had hunted a goat and was feeding on the carcass near the temple. Omgirji Goswami, a 20-year-old cattle herder, was tending to his livestock nearby when the lioness, likely perceiving him as a threat, launched a surprise attack from behind, inflicting serious injuries. Hearing his cries for help, his friend, Sagar Degda, bravely rushed to his aid but was also mauled by the defensive animal.

Both injured youths were immediately evacuated and taken to a local hospital in Savarkundla. Due to the severity of their injuries, they were later transferred to the Amreli Civil Hospital for advanced medical treatment. The attack has caused widespread panic among pastoralists and villagers, who report an increasing presence of lions and leopards in the revenue areas outside designated forest lands.

Community leaders are now demanding that the Forest Department increase its patrolling and surveillance to ensure the safety of residents and prevent similar incidents in the future.