Forest officials in Amreli district have arrested two individuals accused of harassing lions by chasing them, following a disturbing video that sparked outrage last week. The accused, identified as Shivraj Manjariya and Ranjit Vala, both residents of Nani Dhari village in Khambha taluka, have been booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Incident Details
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced on Instagram on May 6, showing individuals recklessly chasing lions at night using a vehicle. The footage quickly spread across social media platforms, triggering widespread condemnation from wildlife lovers and conservationists. While the viral clip appeared to show a single lion being chased, the forest department's subsequent investigation revealed that the duo had actually harassed both a lion and a lioness.
Investigation and Seizures
According to officials, the lions were pursued on a motorcycle in a manner that endangered the animals and caused significant distress. The investigation was conducted under the supervision of Vikas Yadav, Deputy Conservator of Forests for Gir (East). During the probe, officials seized the motorcycle allegedly used in the chase, along with an iPhone 17 Pro Max and a Jio SIM card believed to be linked to the recording and circulation of the video.
Legal Proceedings
Both accused were produced before the First Class Judicial Magistrate court in Khambha on Monday and remanded to two days of forest department custody for further investigation. The arrests highlight the ongoing challenges in protecting Asiatic lions in the region.
Conservation Challenges
Amreli district is known to have more than 300 Asiatic lions living outside designated protected zones, making conservation and monitoring increasingly difficult. This incident underscores the need for heightened vigilance and stricter enforcement of wildlife laws to ensure the safety of these endangered animals.
