Three lions enter residential society in Khambha

Rajkot: Asiatic lions seem to have taken a special liking to residential societies of Khambha, a town bordering the Gir sanctuary, in Amreli district.
For the third consecutive day, a pride of lions entered the town after Saturday midnight, this time in Anand Society that houses posh bungalows. CCTV grabs showed lions walking on the road outside a bungalow where two cars were parked outside. A herd of cows is also seen running for cover. Later, it came to light that the lions had killed two cows and feasted on them.
“We were awakened by the sound of growls that gradually escalated into terrifying roars accompanied by agonizing sounds of the cows being killed by the lions. There were three adult lions that had entered into our society. We were too scared to venture out from our houses, and hence we fastened our doors and helplessly watched big cats eat the carcasses of the cows,” narrated Dashrathsinh Rathod, a resident of the society and the witness to the incident.
It was not just one instance. Lions had been frequenting Anand Society for the past two days. On Friday night also, two adult lions had ventured into the society and killed three cows.
And, on Thursday night too, eight lions in different prides prowled into Hansapara Society, Hadia Society, BPL Colony and Mahadevpara locality of Khambha and preyed upon nine cows, sources said.
All the three incidents were captured on the CCTV cameras in which the lions were seen preying on the cows and making meal for them.
Khambha range forest officer Parimal Patel told TOI: “There is nothing unusual about lions venturing into Khambha, as the town is hemmed in from all sides by thick forest. It is a kind of concrete oasis of human habitation right in the middle of the lush green jungle. Hence, it is not unusual for big cats including lions and leopards to enter into the town.”
“In monsoon, the appetite of the big cats increases and they become more hungry. In order to satiate their hunger, they prey on cows in villages and towns,” said Patel.