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Watch: Forest staff chase lion on motorcycles at Gujarat safari park

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The incident took place during the Diwali festival when the three workers spotted a lion straying outside the 100-by-100-metre fenced kraal where daily 5 p.m. feedings occur. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Jaipal Singh confirmed that an inquiry led to formal notices and the swift dismissal of the outsourced personnel. In-charge Assistant Conservator of Forests Mitesh Vaniya defended the workers against allegations of harassment, emphasizing they lacked ill intent while working demanding 12-hour shifts across the 300-hectare park.

Key points

  • Gujarat forest authorities initiated an inquiry and swiftly dismissed the workers for vio…: Gujarat forest authorities initiated an inquiry and swiftly dismissed the workers for violating routine animal management protocols.
  • Officials denied that the lion was harassed, explaining that staff acted without ill inte…: Officials denied that the lion was harassed, explaining that staff acted without ill intent while steering the straying animal.
  • Heavy tourist volumes during Diwali had placed park staff under high-pressure conditions…: Heavy tourist volumes during Diwali had placed park staff under high-pressure conditions requiring extended 12-hour shifts.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

RAJKOT: Three outsourced forest personnel were relieved of their duties after a video purportedly showing them chasing a lion on a motorcycle at Ambardi Safari Park in Gujarat's Amreli district went viral on social media, an official said on Sunday.

"We had launched an inquiry into the incident. Some forest personnel were directing the lion towards its 'kraal' in the safari park in the evening. Usually, this routine exercise is carried out using a jeep, but some personnel used motorcycles," principal chief conservator of forests Jaipal Singh told PTI.

Singh said a notice was issued following the incident and the three outsourced forest staff were relieved of their duties.

In-charge assistant conservator of forests (ACF) Mitesh Vaniya said the video was recorded during the Diwali festival. However, he denied that the lion had been harassed.

"The safari park spans over 300 hectares, and every day at 5pm, the lions are fed in a 100x100-metre fenced area called a kraal. The officials in the video spotted a lion straying from the kraal and were directing it towards the enclosure. There was…

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