Lion cub rescued from snare near Gir forest

NE NEWS SERVICE

JUNAGADH, FEB 3

A lion cub trapped in a snare on the outskirts of Prachi village in Gir-Somnath district was rescued on Wednesday, a Forest department official said.

Though the department didn’t reveal details of the incident, the involvement of poachers is suspected.

In a related development, forest officials from adjoining Junagadh district nabbed four persons who were trying to flee in a car, the department said in a release.

The four persons included a man who fled from a hospital in Talala taluka in the Gir- Somnath district while undergoing treatment for a lion attack at Prachi.

The statement said a team of forest officials rushed to a place near Prachi, which is close to the Gir forest, after getting a message that a lion had attacked a person.

Upon reaching there, officials found a lion cub trapped in a snare, the statement said.

After some efforts, they also found a man who was attacked by a lion.

While the cub, which was trapped by its leg, was rescued and sent to a care centre for treatment, the injured man was referred to a hospital in Talala town, but he fled.

Later, four suspects, including the injured man, were nabbed near Vadala village in Junagadh district when they were trying to flee in a vehicle, the statement said.

While the injured man has been referred to Junagadh civil hospital, three others were detained for questioning, it said.