WATCH: Traffic disrupted as Asiatic lion walks across highway in western India

Published on Authored by C to I News Desk

On February 17, traffic on the Bhavnagar-Somnath Highway in Gujarat briefly came to a halt after an Asiatic lion was spotted walking across the road, according to reports.

Vehicles waiting for the lion to cross the road. Photo courtesy: Screengrab from X
Vehicles waiting for the lion to cross the road. Photo courtesy: Screengrab from X

Captured on camera, the lion was seen crossing a bridge as vehicles, including cars, trucks, and bikes, came to a stop to allow the majestic animal to pass.

The incident took place in Gujarat’s Amreli district, where wildlife movement has been increasingly common, NDTV reported.

The lion was filmed walking towards a temple down a slope adjacent to the highway.

This sighting is not an isolated case. Earlier, six lions and lionesses were spotted in a residential area late at night, with CCTV footage capturing them chasing cattle on the streets.

This rise in wildlife movement, especially of lions, is becoming more frequent in Amreli and other parts of Gujarat. Recently, another lion was seen halted on a bridge near Dudhala village, and several lions have been injured or killed due to unexpected encounters with vehicles on the highway.

These lions typically inhabit the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the southwestern part of Gujarat’s Saurashtra region.

Gir Forest is home to the last surviving population of Asiatic lions, with more than 50 free-ranging lions in the Girnar forests alone. The lions have now spread across nine districts in the state, including Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, and others, covering an area of around 30,000 square kilometers, known as the Asiatic Lion Landscape.

While these lions are mostly active at night, their increasing presence in residential areas and their interaction with human settlements, including the predation of livestock, have raised concerns about the safety of both the animals and local residents. Authorities continue to monitor and manage the situation to ensure the well-being of both wildlife and the community.