Villages in and around the Gir region are accustomed to lion sightings, often without conflict. However, a recent incident turned tense when a full-grown Asiatic lion triggered panic in Ratang village in Visavadar taluka near the Gir Somnath–Junagadh border after suddenly charging at a young girl.
The lion reportedly entered the village on Wednesday night and killed a cow in a narrow lane. Instead of maintaining a safe distance, a crowd gathered around the animal, with several people recording videos and taking selfies using mobile phone flashlights.
The noise and bright lights agitated the lion while it was feeding. In a sudden reaction, it abandoned the carcass and lunged toward a nearby girl, sparking chaos as people screamed and ran for safety.
A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media.
Former village sarpanch Arvind Sangani alerted forest officials, following which patrolling and vigilance in the area have been intensified.
Wildlife experts note that lions are generally calm and avoid human confrontation, but may turn aggressive if surrounded or disturbed—especially while feeding.