Rajkot: Villages in the Gir and Greater Gir region are accustomed to lion sightings, usually without conflicts.However, a recent encounter turned tense when a full-grown lion caused panic in Ratang village in Visavadar taluka, near the Gir Somnath–Junagadh border, after it suddenly charged at a young girl.The lion entered the village on Wednesday night and killed a cow in a narrow lane. Instead of keeping at a safe distance, a crowd gathered around the animal, many of them recording videos and taking selfies using mobile phone flashlights.The noise and flashing torchlights agitated the lion, which was feeding on its prey. In a sudden reaction, it abandoned the kill and lunged towards a nearby girl, triggering panic as people screamed and ran for safety.A video of the incident was widely circulated on social media.Former village sarpanch Arvind Sangani alerted the forest department, which has increased night patrolling and vigilance in the area.Wildlife experts say that lions are generally calm and avoid confrontation, but can turn violent if surrounded or disturbed, especially during feeding.
