Lion kills five-year-old boy in Khambha

Rajkot: A five-year-old boy walking with his father on the edge of Chaturi village on Wednesday night was pounced on by a lion, dragged away and killed, in Khambha taluka of Amreli.Family members and villagers immediately began a search for the boy, Jiyan Sidda, but could only find his body about a kilometre away. Foresters later went to the site and began combing the area. Authorities said several lions were seen in the vicinity, spurring a capture operation in which five lions were caged.This killing is the latest in a series of attacks across the region. Over the past month, serious human-lion encounters have been reported from Jafrabad, Kovaya in Rajula, Ghantiyal in Bagsara and Mahuva.

Residents said lion sightings near villages are increasingly common. Many say the growing lion population and shrinking distance between lion habitats and human settlements are driving the increase in such incidents.The attack intensified demands for stronger preventive measures. Villagers urged the forest department to ensure continuous patrols in vulnerable areas, strengthen awareness campaigns and deploy more staff.Khambha range forest officer Nikul Nakum said four lions have been caged. He added that vomit, believed to be from one of the lions, was found near the site and is being examined as part of the investigation.