RAJKOT : In one of the most brutal attacks on humans , a group of three Asiatic lions ripped off a fisherman and reportedly feasted on his body in a coastal village near Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar district.The 35-year-old fisherman Rama Chudasma’s body, half of it eaten away, was found in Gujarada village, 10 km from Mahuva town, late Wednesday night.Forest department officials are both shocked and surprised as lions don’t prey on humans though they may attack ferociously. Officials said they have found the location of a nine-year-old lioness, a two-year-old male lin and one cub in the 500 m periphery of Chudasama’s body. A team of doctors with tranquilizers is constantly camping the area to cage these lions.The body was found near Pingleshwar temple which is an isolated area. Investigators found one of the legs of the victim but his ribs, butts and one leg was missing.Forest department sources said that Chudasama was heavily drunk and once even went dangerously close to the pride. A lion tracker deployed there had even warned him against going near the coast as the lions have been permenantly living in the thorny bushes near by.Sandeep Kumar, deputy conservator of forest (DCF), Bhavnagar division told TOI: “As per our inquiry, nobody has seen the lions preying on this man, but pug marks confirmed the presnece of lions near the dead body. We have also found lion’s marking and efforts are on to capture the pride. The analysis of lion’s scat will confirm if they ate the body parts.When asked the possible reason for such a brutal attack, Kumar said, “Generally, lions don’t prey on humans, but it is an opportunistic thing. Under the influence of alcohol, he may have reached very close to the lions.“The place were the attack happened is a revenue area and lions are familiar with the movement of human beings. They avoid conflict with people, but we need to investigate what exactly provoked them so much.Once captured, the lions will be imprisoned for life as per the rule.The attack comes barely fortnight after a contractual labourer of forest department was mauled to death in Devalia Safari Park.

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