A cattle herder in India miraculously survived after a lioness pinned him to the ground for nearly 30 minutes without delivering a fatal bite. The incident, captured on video, shows the subadult lioness sitting on Kalu Parmar as he lies motionless beneath her while villagers shout and throw stones in an attempt to scare the animal away.
Survival Through Calmness
Wildlife experts say a single bite from the lioness would almost certainly have killed the man. However, Parmar believes that calmly stroking the animal may have saved his life. The encounter occurred on Monday morning in the western Indian state of Gujarat, where Asiatic lions roam freely in parts of the region.
The lioness reportedly entered a village after making a kill nearby the previous day. Before attacking Parmar, she also confronted another resident, who escaped when a buffalo got between them. The lioness pinned the herder to the ground with one of her forelegs and repeatedly forced him back down whenever he tried to get up. Despite the terrifying ordeal, she never bit him, leaving him with claw injuries instead.
Victim's Account
Parmar said: "I was going to feed my cattle when the lioness suddenly attacked me from behind. The big cat caught hold of my hand and did not let me go for a long time." He was initially taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a specialist hospital for further treatment.
The viral footage has drawn widespread attention because of the man's remarkable composure. Rather than struggling, he remained still and gently stroked the lioness, apparently in an attempt to calm her. Another lion could also be seen walking around nearby during the incident.
Village Leader's Comments
Karmasinh Chauhan, a village leader, said: "This was the first time a lion attacked a villager, though we have a sizeable population of big cats in the hilly area nearby." He added: "Kalu told us he could not believe his luck. When the lioness sat on him, he thought it was the end. He immediately started patting it, hoping the animal would let him go."
Chauhan also said: "A buffalo came between the villager and the lioness, and that is how the man and his mother survived."
Wildlife Expert Insights
Senior researchers at India's Wildlife Institute described the lioness's behavior as highly unusual, noting that lions rarely spare people once they are in such close contact. One researcher suggested the lioness may have been familiar with the village and possibly accustomed to being fed there.
A forestry official said: "Villagers chased and threw stones at the animal, leaving her agitated. Kalu went to rescue his cattle, which were near the lioness, and was attacked." Officials have since identified the lioness and deployed teams equipped with tranquilliser guns to capture her.
The incident came as another man in the same region was left in hospital with serious leg injuries after being attacked by a lion while sleeping outside his home the previous night, according to The Times of India.
