According to the Forest department, the four had entered the reserved forest illegally on two motorcycles and located a pride of lions. They went near the animals for a closer view. A full grown lion attacked them and Parmar was left behind when the others escaped on their bikes.

Foresters later rushed to the spot and recovered, albeit with great difficulty, the partly eaten cadaver of the victim. The lions had dragged the body 300 metres away from the spot.

K R Vaghasiya, Range Forest Officer (Veraval range), who monitored the entire operation, said, “After conducting postmortem at the government hospital in Maliya town, the body was handed over to victim’s kin.”

A case has been registered under Rule 2 (12) and 26 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, against the three for illegally entering the forest and teasing wild animals.

According to Vaghasiya, the offences are liable to punishment up to six months imprisonment or fine ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 2,000.

“No one has been arrested so far and no statement has been registered. At this stage, it would be premature to say if the victim's kin will receive compensation," he added.