Gir: In a striking example of wildlife intersecting with human infrastructure, Asiatic lions were recently seen crossing railway tracks inside Gir National Park. The moment was captured in videos shared by wildlife enthusiast and Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani.

In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), a lioness is seen calmly leading her cubs across the tracks amid a serene forest backdrop. Nathwani described the scene as “quiet and beautiful,” yet fraught with “invisible danger,” emphasizing the need for awareness and responsibility in shared habitats.

In his post, Nathwani wrote, “A quiet, beautiful sight of an Asiatic lioness leading her cubs across a railway line in Gir. A moment that looks calm but carries invisible danger. For us, it’s a route of travel. For them, it’s part of their home. Sharing these landscapes calls for awareness, care, and responsibility for the wild.”

A follow-up video shared by Nathwani showed another similar encounter, where forest trackers and the train’s loco pilot coordinated to ensure the animals’ safe passage. In the footage, trackers can be heard guiding the lioness and her cubs off the tracks as a train approached. The loco pilot slowed the train and brought it to a brief halt so that the noise did not startle the big cats.

While visually compelling, such incidents are not isolated. Gir, the last natural habitat of the Asiatic lion, is a region where humans and big cats coexist, with railway lines passing through forest areas to support logistical development.

Nathwani, who is also a director at Reliance Industries and president of the Gujarat State Football Association, frequently shares glimpses of wildlife from Gir and continues to advocate a more balanced and sensitive approach to lion conservation. DeshGujarat