Movement of vehicles came to a standstill on Ronj Road State Highway in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district after a pride of Asiatic lions was seen walking along the road near Kodinar. The pride, consisting of two lionesses and eight cubs, had reportedly strayed from nearby forest areas.
As per media report, located just an hour from the Gir National Park — the only natural habitat of Asiatic lions — Kodinar has witnessed multiple lion sightings in recent days. Locals say the pride has been seen moving around nearby villages and now increasingly on public roads.
A video showing the lions strolling on the highway has gone viral. The sighting coincides with an ongoing lion mating programme in the region. Experts also suspect that mosquito infestations in forest zones could be disturbing the lions’ natural habitat, pushing them toward human areas.
A similar incident was reported in February on the Bhavnagar-Somnath Highway, where an Asiatic lion was seen walking across a bridge in Amreli district. Traffic had paused for nearly 15 minutes until the lion left the road and headed toward a nearby temple.
Meanwhile, Gujarat’s lion population has seen a rise. As per the 16th Asiatic Lion Census announced in May by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state is now home to 891 lions — up from 674 in the last count five years ago. The census covered 11 districts including Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, and Rajkot.
Officials are keeping a close watch as lion sightings become more frequent in human-populated areas.