CNN-IBN
TimePublished on Sat, Jan 17, 2009 at 08:45 in Nation section
New Delhi: In a tragic incident, a 28-year old man was mauled to death in Veraval forest range near the famous Gir National Park in Gujarat on Friday.
According to reports, four people on a trip to Veraval forest range tried teasing a pride of seven lions.
Thereafter, one of them was dragged away by the lions and was later found dead, while the other three managed to escape.
The Gujarat forest department says that the four persons were not authorised to enter the forest and had done so illegally.
They also say the man had died even before the forest guards could rush to the spot to try and rescue him.
The Gir National Park is the last home of the Asiatic Lion and the forests here are heavily guarded.
"They had illegally entered the reserve forest area. They had come to see the lions, but ventured too close to the group. People do not understand the nature of the lions. They go close to them and agitate them,” says Range Forest Officer, Veraval Range, S B Vaghasiya.
Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/trying-to-tease-lions-man-mauled-to-death-near-gir/82980-3.html
