Lioness scare at Bhavnath fair; rescued after 6 hours | Rajkot News – The Times of India

Rajkot: While thousands were immersed in faith at the Bhavnath Fair on the foothills of Mount Girnar, a forest department team was working with equal devotion nearby — ensuring that this “Mini Kumbh” did not turn into a stampede tragedy.A lioness was spotted barely 100m away from a jam-packed ground hosting the Maha Shivratri fair on Friday evening, prompting a carefully coordinated rescue operation that continued until midnight.While wild cats loitering around Bhavnath Taleti (foothills) is fairly common, the situation warranted extraordinary efforts, lest the lioness wander closer to the crowd, trigger panic, and lead to a potentially deadly stampede.As part of routine protocol during the annual fair, the forest department keeps a close watch on wildlife movement. Officials said the lioness was in a revenue area and appeared to be heading towards the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, located adjacent to Bhavnath.It took nearly six hours and a team of 20 trackers, veterinary doctors, and forest department officials from Sasan and Junagadh to safely capture the lioness and relocate her to the forest, away from the human ocean. Trackers initially tried to divert the lioness towards an alternative route, but she refused to budge.According to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Junagadh, Akshay Joshi, 20 cages were deployed around the Punit Ashram premises to restrict the animal’s movement. A bait was placed to lure the lioness, but she repeatedly retreated after sensing human presence.“Had the lioness entered the mela premises, panic could have triggered a stampede, leading to injuries or even worse. Our priority was to ensure the safety of devotees as well as the animal,” a forest official said.The ancient fair has deepest significance stemning from the belief that Lord Shiva himself visits the Bhavnath temple on the auspicious night of Maha Shivratri, making the occasion sacred for devotees. One of the most striking features of the fair is the arrival of naga (naked) sadhus who arrive in groups chanting hymns.