Forest Dept detains Amreli youth for harassing lion cub after photos, videos go viral

Amreli: Amreli district, home to Gujarat’s largest lion population, witnessed a social media controversy after a man posted photos and a video involving a lion cub near Chhatadiya Nursery in Dhari. The Forest Department acted promptly following the incident.

According to officials, 27-year-old Amit Yunasbhai Nad, a resident of Zar village, shared the content on social media. As the photos and videos went viral, the Forest Department detained the youth.

During the probe, Nad admitted to taking photos with the cub while unloading heavy vehicles at Chhatadiya Nursery. He also submitted a written apology, reiterating that the other viral video was AI-generated. Authorities, however, confirmed that further action would be taken if the videos are found to show any real provocation of the cub.

It was revealed that Nad had previously worked as a daily wage employee in the Forest Department but has been out of service for the past year. The department continues to verify whether the video was genuinely AI-generated or if the cub was actually disturbed.

Dhari Gir East DCF Vikas Yadav stated, “The matter is under investigation, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.” DeshGujarat