Amreli: The forest department has increased patrolling at the sacred Shatrunjaya Hill after a video of two lions climbing up and descending the stairway of one of the temples went viral on instant messaging apps and social media.Officials said the video was shot on Feb 14 by one of the pilgrims and the viral footage showed the lions moving fearlessly near the stairway used by devotees.The spotting of lions comes ahead of the Chha Gau yatra, where a large number of devotees undertake a barefoot march of around 18-25 km during Fagan Sud Teras (the 13th day of the waxing moon in the Gujarati month), often falling in March.Bhavnagar deputy conservator of forests (DCF) Yogesh said, “After the video surfaced, the forest department intensified regular patrolling in the Shatrunjaya area, especially considering the upcoming Chha Gau yatra. Around 12 lions are currently residing in the foothill revenue areas near Shatrunjaya. To ensure the safety of pilgrims, approximately 77 forest personnel have been deployed for continuous patrolling and monitoring.“The forest department has appealed to devotees to remain cautious, undertake the climb in groups, and strictly follow official guidelines.The incident occurred at the nearly 1,900-ft -high Shatrunjaya Hill, considered the second-highest after Girnar in the region, when the lions suddenly appeared on the route used by devotees undertaking the steep climb on foot. Shatrunjaya Hill houses several ancient Jain temples.Lions from the Gir have gradually expanded their range from Girnar up to Shatrunjaya, making the Palitana-Shatrunjaya belt an emerging habitat. In recent years, lion movement has increased across various parts of the Bhavnagar district.The adjoining revenue areas around Shatrunjaya Hill are increasingly becoming part of the expanding wildlife habitat.
