Daijiworld Media Network - Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar, Jul 8: A nine-year-old boy was killed in a suspected attack by a wild big cat in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district on Tuesday evening, adding to growing concerns over a series of recent fatal wildlife incidents in the region.

The incident occurred in Bambhaniya village of Mahuva taluka. The victim, identified as Nitya Gondaliya, had left his home at around 5.30 p.m. and was walking towards farmland near Mobhiyana village when he was allegedly attacked.

According to police, the child failed to return home, prompting family members and villagers to launch a search across nearby agricultural fields and adjoining forest areas.

During the search, some villagers reportedly spotted two wild animals, one of which appeared to be a leopard cub. However, officials have not yet confirmed whether the fatal attack was carried out by a leopard or an Asiatic lion.

As there are no CCTV cameras in the area, investigators are relying on physical evidence to determine the exact sequence of events.

After an extensive search, the boy was located with grievous injuries and was immediately taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Police said the child had suffered severe injuries, including a badly torn left leg, multiple claw marks across his body, injuries to his neck and elbow, and extensive head wounds with part of his scalp missing.

Forest department officials have begun an investigation and are examining footprints, photographs and other forensic evidence from the site to identify the animal responsible for the attack.

The victim's father, Prakash Gondaliya, said the family began searching for the child after discovering he had not returned home. He said they eventually found him in an area between the forest and nearby farmlands.

A relative of the family said this was the third similar wildlife-related incident reported in the locality within the past few days. He added that the child's body was found between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. after an intensive search and claimed that the animals seen nearby appeared to be leopards.

The tragedy has left residents of Bambhaniya village shocked and has renewed concerns about increasing human-wildlife encounters in the area, with locals urging authorities to strengthen monitoring and safety measures around villages located close to forest habitats.