Alert trackers save lion from electrocution

Rajkot: Two lion trackers of the forest department saved a lion from getting electrocuted after a live wires snapped on the spot where it had preyed upon a cow.
The incident happened in Nageshri village of Jafrabad taluka in Amreli district on Saturday night
“The main wire from an electric pole had got snapped and had fallen near the spot where the lion was feasting on the cow. Two trackers - Vijay Varu and Ajay Kotila - showed their presence of mind and pulled away the prey from the wire and took it at a safe distance,” Nisha Raj, deputy conservator of forest (DCF), Shetrunji division told TOI.
“We were woken up by the sound of moaning of the cow and roaring by the lion. As the main wire got snapped, darkness had covered the entire village. In the torch light, we saw that the big cat was feeding on the cow,” said Varu.
“All the villagers started yelling and clapping in unison and drove the lion away from the spot. We also put aside the live wire with the help of a wooden stick,” narrated Kanu Varu, a villager.
On Sunday morning, the villagers alerted the officials of Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) who repaired the wire and restored electricity in the village.
Nageshri is a coastal village where a pride consisting of a dozen-odd lions has been camping for the past several months.