Gujarat: Out on a stroll, lion seen near a colony in Rajula

RAJKOT: Having a lion cross your path like a stray dog is not what one would normally expect in a residential area, but in Rajula taluka of Amreli district, residents living in colonies set up by cement majors have been entertaining the royal guests of late.

One such sight late on Friday night would permanently remain etched in the minds of the residents of Ultratech’s Gujarat Cement Company’s colony in Kovaya, adjoining the Pipavav port.
A male lion with a thick mane decided to raise residents’ excitement levels with a leisurely walk right past an ATM kiosk near the entrance gate of the colony in the dead of the night.
A click-savvy resident who was lucky to shoot a video of the wild cat sauntering in the area on his mobile phone told TOI: “The memory of seeing a lion up close leisurely walking so near our gate still sends shivers down my spine. It was something beyond my wildest dreams!”
An official from Rajula range forest, however, claimed that lions entering into residential areas in the taluka isn’t a rare phenomenon. Earlier, in December too, a pride of three lions had entered the colony.
“Humans are not the natural prey of lions. Yet, even though they don’t attack people, nobody should take any chances,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, another pride of eight lions reportedly entered a village of Dhari taluka in Amreli district on Friday night, the video of which has gone viral on WhatsApp and other social media platforms. But its exact location is still unclear, said officials.