A wildfire broke out on a large patch of grassland near the Asiatic lion sanctuary in Amreli district of Gujarat district on Saturday.
The blaze, which broke out on Friday evening, has been brought under control by over 300 forest personnel and firefighters, trackers, wildlife friends and locals before it could harm the lions and other wildlife, according to the official.
“No animal casualty has been reported in the blaze so far and the area will be scanned for the next three days,” he said.
“The fire broke out in the bushes and tall grass on a hillock in the revenue area near the Mitiyala wildlife sanctuary, which is a protected area for Asiatic lions, and soon spread across 250 acres”, the official said.
The fire on a majority of the area was brought under control before it could spread to the protected area and affect lions and other wildlife, Amreli collector Gaurang Makwana said.
“Mitiyala forest range, which is located nearby, remains protected from the fire. We did not let the fire reach a rivulet that divides the two areas,” he said.