Three lions suspected of fatally attacking 11-year-old Mayur Chauhan at Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Junagadh, Gujarat have been captured and transferred to Sakkarbaug Zoo for scientific examination, the Gujarat Forest Department confirmed on Saturday, 11 July. The boy, a resident of Kheda district, was killed near the 50th step of the newly constructed Girnar staircase route, with investigators still working to establish the full circumstances of the incident.

How the Operation Unfolded

Following the attack, the Forest Department launched a large-scale response involving forest officials, veterinarians, and wildlife trackers from Sasan. Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Akshay Joshi confirmed the successful capture of the lion group.

'Today, on the new Girnar staircase in the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, an 11-year-old boy, Mayur Chauhan, tragically lost his life in a lion attack near the 50th step. Immediately after the incident, teams from the Forest Department, the veterinary unit, and the tracker team from Sasan reached the spot. The group of lions involved, two males and one female, has been successfully rescued and shifted to Sakkarbaug Zoo, where they will undergo scientific examination and further analysis. The investigation is still underway,' Joshi said.

Key Evidence from Veterinary Examination

According to officials, one lion was captured first during the initial phase of the operation. During a veterinary examination, the animal reportedly vomited, and human body parts were found — a grim indication of its direct involvement in the attack. Subsequent operations led to the capture of the remaining two lions believed to have been part of the same group.

All three — two males and one female — will undergo detailed scientific and veterinary assessments at Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh to determine the degree of each animal's involvement and evaluate their behaviour before any further decision is taken.

Staircase Route Closed for Pilgrims

As a precautionary measure, authorities have shut the new Girnar staircase route to pilgrims until further notice. Girnar Hill, one of Gujarat's most significant pilgrimage destinations, draws thousands of devotees year-round and sits within the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary — a core part of the Asiatic lion landscape in the Junagadh region.

This comes amid a broader pattern of increased human-wildlife contact in the region. The closure is expected to remain in place while the investigation and wildlife assessment continue.

Rising Lion Population, Rising Risk

Gujarat is the world's only natural habitat of the endangered Asiatic lion, whose population has grown steadily over the past decade, leading to wider distribution beyond traditional forest zones. While fatal attacks remain relatively uncommon, the expanding range of the species has made human-lion interactions increasingly frequent in fringe areas. The Forest Department routinely deploys tracker teams and rescue personnel to respond to such incidents, though Saturday's attack underscores the persistent risk at the human-wildlife interface.

With the investigation ongoing and the three lions now under observation at Sakkarbaug Zoo, wildlife officials are expected to issue a formal assessment of the animals' status and next steps in the coming days.