Heroic Kachraj lioness ‘Rajmata’ hospitalized

AHMEDABAD: A 15-year-old lioness, popularly known as Rajmata in Liliya-Kachraj area, is battling with near-fatal injuries in the forest department hospital at Jashadhar. Sources in the department said the lioness has received deep injuries in her stomach during mating. Local villagers had informed the forest department after they saw her suffering from illness.

Rajmata is so popular in the area that in 2013, when she was taken to the zoo, locals rallied for her freedom, with the local panchayat taking steps to convince forest officials to release her from captivity.

According to forest officials, in order to save another lioness and her cubs, the matriarch had intercepted an approaching lion and mated with it, thus receiving injuries.

“She was aware that if the lion goes near the young lioness with newborn cubs, the lioness will not yield easily and the lion could kill the cubs,” said P Vithlani, range forest officer, who had been constantly keeping the lioness with cubs under watch. “Rajmata indulged in mating in order to protect the young lioness,” Vithlani added.

“During mating, Rajmata received deep injuries, and was later admitted to

Jasadhar Hospital

of the forest department. She is recovering and is responding to treatment,” Vithlani said. Rajan Joshi, a wildlife enthusiast said, “Rajmata was first spotted in

Liliya Kachraj

area in 2002. She was a cub of five months, when she came to the area with her parents.”

“Later, during floods, her father was swept away and died. The forest department rescued her mother, but was unaware of Rajmata who was then about three to four years old, and left behind,” Joshi added. “Since then, she has been increasing her family. At present, the region has 40-odd lions, and most are from Rajmata’s family,” Joshi said.

The lioness was radio collared to study the behaviour of big cats outside the sanctuary areas. Rajmata became so popular with local residents that in 2013, people of Kachraj had launched an agitation for return of their Rajmata, who had wandered off. Later, the lioness was spotted in Gondal. “The forest department had captured the lioness, given it a new radio collar, and kept it in the zoo,” said Manoj Joshi, trustee of

Pariyavaran Samiti

in the area. “But local residents went to the forest office and urged officials to free the lioness.” Even the panchayat had passed a resolution and compelled the forest department to free their Rajmata, Joshi said.