A 21-year-old man was mauled to death by a lion after allegedly joining an illegal lion-watching group in India, authorities said.

The horrifying attack happened on July 8 near the border of the Antalya Revenue area and Luwaria Reserve Forest in Gujarat’s Amreli district.

The victim was identified as Sohil Memon. Officials said he was dragged deep into the forest by the lion after the group allegedly entered the protected area at night.

According to forest officers, the group had intruded into the zone around 7:30 to 8 p.m. The attack happened during mating season, a time when lions and lionesses in the area may be more aggressive.

After the mauling, the lion reportedly stayed near Memon’s body in an aggressive posture. Officials said the animal refused to move away, forcing forest personnel to enter the area with a convoy of government vehicles.

“The animal refused to move away from the victim, forcing forest personnel to enter the area with a convoy of government vehicles,” officials said. “After a prolonged effort, the team managed to retrieve the body and sent it for post-mortem examination.”

The Forest Department quickly launched an operation after the attack. Officials tranquilized the male lion believed to be responsible and moved it into a cage.

Authorities said the lion is estimated to be between 9 and 12 years old.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Chirag Amin said there is a major difference between seeing a lion that wanders naturally into a village or farmland and going into lion territory to chase or disturb the animal.

“If a lion is seen naturally in a village or on farmland, that is not illegal lion watching,” Amin explained. “But harassing wild animals is a crime under the Wildlife Protection Act, and anyone caught doing so faces serious consequences.”

He also warned that teasing, chasing or provoking wildlife is not just dangerous, but criminal.

“Harassing or teasing wildlife is a very serious and criminal act under the Wildlife Act,” Amin said. “If any person is found involved in such activity, the Forest Department will take the strictest legal action against them.”

Two youths believed to have been part of the group were detained for questioning.

Investigators are also looking at mobile phones that appear to have had photos and videos deleted from them. The devices are expected to be sent to a Forensic Science Laboratory so officials can try to recover the erased files and determine exactly what happened before the deadly encounter.

Authorities said they are working to identify everyone who was present during the alleged illegal lion safari.

The tragedy has renewed fears about human-lion encounters in the Gir region, where several attacks have recently been reported.

At least four lion attacks have been reported in the past 20 days, including the death of a 5-year-old boy in Amreli last month. Other recent cases have been recorded in Jafrabad, Savarkundla, Rajula and Bhavnagar.

Officials are now urging the public to stay away from restricted wildlife areas and immediately report anyone seen disturbing wild animals.

“If anyone receives information about someone teasing wildlife, local citizens should immediately inform the Forest Department,” Amin said.

The Forest Department said its investigation is ongoing.