Watch: Pride of lions stealthily walk across busy road in Gujarat, video viral

Junagadh (Gujarat): A video of lions marching across a road in Junagadh city in Gujarat has garnered several reactions on social media. The video shows a pride of seven lions walking along the road on a rainy night. The lions return to wherever they came from after hearing dogs bark. 

Parimal Nathwani, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from Jharkhand, tweeted a video of the lions. He also later posted: "Hunger due to lack of prey base forces #Gir #Lions to enter human habitats in search of food escalating human-animal conflict. With an increase in the Lion population, authorities should work on nurturing a rich prey base."

Deputy Conservator of Forests Junagadh, Dr Sunil Kumar Berwal confirmed to media that the lions came from the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is part of the Junagadh forest division.

Dr Beriwal also tweeted saying it was normal for lions to be passing through the city. "Please note that Lions of #GirnarSanctuary are safe. Rains or no rains, these lions do cross through these parts of Junagadh city at times of their own free will. It is a natural behaviour of the lions in Girnar," he wrote.

According to the last census, in 2015, Gujarat has 523 Asiatic lions. A small number of lions live in the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is connected to the main Gir protected area by a lion corridor.