Gujarat: Video of illegal lion show with cow as bait viral, 12 booked

JUNAGADH: The Gujarat forest department has registered an FIR against 12 persons after a video showing a group of people watching an illegal lion show went viral.
The accused had gathered to watch the show in which a lion is seen killing and feasting on the carcass of a cow that was tied to a pole and used as a bait to lure the big cat at a village in Gir forest of Junagadh, an official said on Sunday.
The show was organised at a village in Devaliya range of Gir forest on November 8, he said.
The Gir forest national park and wildlife sanctuary, also known as Sasan-Gir, is known as the "last abode" of Asiatic lions.
“We have filed an FIR against 12 unidentified persons and three persons have been detained for questioning. The action was taken on the basis of a video which shows a group of people gathered to watch an Asiatic lion kill a cow tied to a pole. The organiser used the cow as bait to attract the lion for the illegal lion show,” deputy conservator of forest (Junagadh), S K Berwal said.
Some of them are seen recording the show on mobile phones. The accused have been booked under various sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, including sections pertaining to hunting (section 9), official said.