Rescued lion dies in Gujarat

A lion rescued from a forest in Gujarat's Amreli district died Sunday from injuries received during infighting, a state Forest department official said. The sub-adult lion was rescued from Vavera in Rajula forest ranger and his wound, sustained in infighting, had got infected with maggots, the official informed.

"A male lion, around 2-3 years old, was rescued from Vavera round of Rajula range on November 7.

It had sustained injuries from infighting. It was taken to the Babarkot rescue centre in Amreli district for treatment but died on Sunday morning," Dushyant Vasavada, Chief Conservator of Forests (Junagadh Wildlife Circle) said. As many as 23 lions had died in the Gir forest in a short span of three weeks in September this year.

Seventeen of these died due to Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)) and bacterial fever, following which 36 lions were shifted to three rescue centres where they are being given the vaccine.