Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Lioness Suspected of Rabies Dies After Rescue in Gujarat
A young lioness injured five people in separate incidents in Gujarat.
Forest officers rescued her from a village on October 2.
They took her to an animal care centre.
There, she showed unusual behaviour, including biting and making unusual sounds.
She died about 20 hours after being rescued.
Officers suspect she may have had rabies, but tests are needed to confirm it.
Samples from her brain were sent to a university for testing.
The five injured people were given anti-rabies vaccines.
A 2–3-year-old lioness died at Krankach Animal Care Centre on October 3, about 20 hours after rescue.
It was rescued from Arjunsukh village in Amreli district on October 2 after separate attacks injured five people.
The injured people were four villagers and a forest department officer.
Forest officers reported unusual behaviour, including biting and unusual vocalisations, after the lioness was taken to the centre.
Brain tissue samples were sent to Anand Agriculture University to confirm suspected rabies; all five injured people received anti-rabies vaccines.
- Who
- A 2–3-year-old lioness and the five people she injured: four villagers and a forest department officer.
- What
- The lioness died after rescue, with rabies suspected; brain tissue samples were sent for confirmation.
- When
- Rescued October 2; died October 3. The report was published on Monday, but the year is not stated.
- Where
- The lioness was rescued in Arjunsukh village, Amreli district, Gujarat, and died at Krankach Animal Care Centre.
- Why
- The cause of death is under investigation; forest officers suspect rabies after the lioness showed unusual behaviour.
Suspected cause
Confirmed findings
Rabies diagnosis
Suspected cause
Forest officers suspect the lioness had rabies, citing unusual behaviour after rescue.
Confirmed findings
Rabies has not been confirmed; brain tissue samples were sent for testing.
- Lioness age
- 2–3 years
- Rescue date
- October 2
- Date of death
- October 3
- Time after rescue
- About 20 hours
- People injured
- Five: four villagers and one forest department officer
- Testing
- Brain tissue samples sent to Anand Agriculture University for confirmation
- Medical response
- All five injured people received anti-rabies vaccines