Overview
- Ashraf Ali Chauhan, a contractual tracker, died after a tranquiliser dart meant for a lioness struck his left hand during a rescue near Nani Monpari in Visavadar.
- He collapsed at the scene and was taken to Visavadar Civil Hospital and then Junagadh Civil Hospital, where he was declared dead on Monday morning, according to Chief Conservator Ram Ratan Nala.
- The operation was launched after a four-year-old boy was killed by a lioness on Sunday near fields close to the Gir forest landscape.
- Forest officials say the lioness was later rescued after teams, including wildlife veterinarians and trackers, converged on a tur (pigeon pea) field.
- The department says trackers are covered by Rs 10 lakh insurance and has begun formalities for Chauhan’s family, while officials describe such misfires as extremely rare.