The
Gujarat forest department has spoken out on the issue after claims of a
growing trend in after dark 'lion selfies' - in which people pose
perilously close to the creatures - despite the practice being banned.
While
forest guards patrol large swathes of the endangered Asiatic lions'
habitat 24 hours a day, they don't have as much control if a lion strays
onto a main road or into a village on the hunt for food, and locals
alert tourists.
There has been an increase in the
number of people posing for 'selfies' with Asiatic lions in the
background, despite a warning that such moves are banned
Forest minister Ganpat Vasava told the Times of India: "Illegal
shows or taking selfies in the night close to the big cat is
impossible. Our department staff are on an alert and they are moving in
the night to curb such activities. However, if a lion enters a village
and kills a domestic animal, locals call in tourists."
The
newspaper claimed that a bodybuilder from Vadodara had recently taken
numerous photos and videos late at night with lions on a road, before
posting them on Facebook.
In
June this year, the Gujarat forest department issued an earlier warning
over the growing number of wildlife lovers taking photos with lions in
the background to post on social media.
Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja found
himself in hot water after posing for photos with lions in the
background earlier this year and was fined 20,000 rupees
It followed a spate of attacks in which villagers were killed or injured by the cats.
But just days later, Indian
cricketer Ravindra Jadeja posted photos on social media showing him and
his wife in front of a pride of lions during a safari in Gir forest.
An investigation was ordered and, in August, he was fined 20,000 rupees (£245) for taking the images.
There is no suggestion that this woman
is doing anything wrong, but a growing number of photos showing
wildlife lovers posing in front of the big cats have swept social media
"We
had instituted a probe and called Jadeja for a statement," AP Singh,
chief forest conservator in Gujarat state, told AFP at the time.
"But
since he was not available, his father-in-law Hardevsinh Solanki gave a
written statement on his behalf and paid the fine of 20,000 rupees."
In
one of the photos on Instagram, the all-rounder is seen smiling and
pointing at a pride of big cats resting behind him with a caption
"family photo, having good time in Sasan (Gir)".
Gir wildlife sanctuary is a popular big cat safari destination and the only place where Asiatic lions remain in the wild
Another is a selfie of Jadeja and his wife as a lion looks on in the background.
Gir wildlife sanctuary is a popular big cat safari destination and the only place where Asiatic lions remain in the wild.
Asiatic
lions, slightly smaller than their African cousins and with a fold of
skin along their bellies, have been increasing in numbers in Gir, with
523 recorded in the latest census.
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