Rajkot: A lion was spotted feeding on a cow near the new campus of Bhakt Kavi Narsinh Mehta University (BKNMU) in Junagadh, raising concern among students and staff. A video of the incident, recorded by students from their classroom windows on Wednesday, went viral on social media.According to sources, the lion had entered the university’s new campus and was seen feeding on the cow near the parking area, only a few metres from the classrooms. Students recorded the animal from inside a classroom as it remained largely undisturbed. The video also captures students discussing a seminar being conducted inside the classroom while the lion was sitting outside.Locals said the lion left the area after feeding on the cow. The university is situated close to forested areas where sightings and movement of wildlife, including lions and leopards, are frequently reported.The incident took place at the university’s newly developed permanent campus near Khadiya village on Bilkha Road. BKNMU had previously been functioning from a temporary campus at a polytechnic college. Following the completion of five buildings, several departments have now shifted to the new premises.Spread across approximately 245 acres, the new campus currently houses the departments of sociology, commerce, languages, chemistry and life sciences. Two additional buildings are under construction. Around 2,000 postgraduate and PhD students and nearly 200 faculty members have shifted to the campus.BKNMU vice-chancellor Pratapsinh Chauhan said the university was aware of the campus’s proximity to forested areas and the resulting movement of wildlife.“Since it is a forest area, movement of wild animals is common here. We have also issued a work order for construction of a protection wall around the university campus,” Chauhan said.Junagadh deputy conservator of forest Akshay Joshi could not be contacted for comment.
