Junagadh, Oct 24 (NationPress) A lioness tragically drowned in a canal while attempting to escape from Forest Department officials who had apprehended her from the residential vicinity near Divasa village in Gujarat's Junagadh district on Friday.

The unfortunate event unfolded in the early hours when the lioness made her way into the village area around 5 a.m., alarming the local residents. They quickly notified the Forest Department, which responded swiftly.

Officials succeeded in capturing the lioness by breaching a compound, but shortly thereafter, she fled the area. Sadly, she subsequently fell into a nearby canal, where her feet became ensnared in the undergrowth, resulting in her drowning.

The remains of the big cat were retrieved and sent to the Amrapur Care Centre for an autopsy.

Initial reports from officials indicate that the lioness's demise was due to her being trapped in the canal's vegetation.

Authorities are actively investigating the details surrounding this tragic incident.

Gujarat has seen numerous man-animal conflicts in recent times, particularly around Gir National Park and its surrounding buffer zones.

Such incidents have included lions entering villages, attacking livestock, and in rare instances, leading to human injuries or fatalities.

These occurrences tend to increase during dry seasons or when prey availability diminishes, prompting forest authorities to enhance patrolling, establish early-warning systems, and deploy rapid response units.

Gujarat is the sole habitat for Asiatic lions, a species that exists nowhere else outside the Gir National Park and adjacent sanctuaries.

With a population exceeding 670 lions per the latest census, Gujarat is vital for the conservation of this endangered species. These lions not only symbolize the state's rich biodiversity but also play a crucial role in ecotourism, bolstering local economies and fostering global awareness about wildlife conservation.

The Gujarat government has enacted an all-encompassing strategy to safeguard public safety and protect wildlife, integrating modern policing, advanced technology, and community collaboration.

The state police utilize CCTV surveillance, drone monitoring, and real-time traffic management systems in urban zones, while specialized wildlife protection units and rapid response teams oversee and address human-wildlife interactions near forests and national parks.

Public awareness initiatives, early-warning systems, and collaboration with local communities further bolster safety, helping to avert accidents, mitigate conflicts, and uphold law and order.