Lion Dies After Entering Sea During Territorial Fight Near Pipavav Port

Amreli: A six-year-old lion drowned in the Arabian Sea near Pipavav Port in Amreli district, apparently after entering the water while fleeing a territorial clash with two other lions, a forest official said on Tuesday.

The lion’s carcass was recovered from the sea near the port’s jetty around 1.30 pm on Tuesday, approximately three km from the coastline of Patva village, said DK Makwana, Range Forest Officer (RFO) of Rajula range.

As per the information, three lions were spotted near Patva’s coastline on Monday and may have been involved in a territorial fight. Following the clash, the lion apparently entered the sea near Chanch Bandar in an attempt to escape and reach a safer location on the other side.

Local residents reportedly saw the lion entering the water, while forest personnel later confirmed its footprints near the spot.

“Lions can generally swim and cross water bodies if the distance is not too long. However, this lion may have exhausted itself while swimming,” Makwana said, adding that officials learnt about the incident after the carcass was spotted on Tuesday afternoon.

Personnel conducting routine surveillance near the port’s jetty initially mistook the floating carcass for that of a cow or buffalo. Upon closer inspection, they identified it as a wild animal and alerted the company management, which subsequently informed the forest department.

Forest officials reached the spot and confirmed that the carcass was that of a lion.

DeshGujarat