Rajkot: A lioness was killed late on Sunday night after being struck by a vehicle while crossing the Bhavnagar–Somnath National Highway near Hemal village in Jafrabad taluka of Amreli district.

Forest department officials said the animal sustained serious head injuries and died at the spot. The incident came to light early on Monday morning, following which a team from the Jafrabad Range reached the location. The carcass was taken into custody and shifted to the Babarkot Animal Care Centre for postmortem examination.

As per the forest department officials, the CCTV footage from nearby hotels and along the national highway is being reviewed to identify the vehicle involved. Efforts are underway to trace the driver responsible, as forest guards and trackers have launched an investigation.

The Bhavnagar–Somnath National Highway, especially the Rajula–Jafrabad stretch, is considered a high-risk corridor for Asiatic lions. Lions are frequently spotted crossing roads near villages such as Timbi, Chelna, Hemal, Dudhala, Nageshri, Charnala, Hindorna and Kadiyali, which has led to several wildlife fatalities in the past. DeshGujarat